The International Community of Women Living with HIV Eastern Africa is be discussing about HIV prevention tools for women including young women during Radio One’s popular talk show Spectrum starting at 7 to 8pm.
This discussion comes at a time when we are celebrating the results of studies about a dapivirine vaginal ring that can safely and effectively help prevent HIV infection in women. Even though the results are promising there is still a lot to be done before the product can be put on the market.
The discussion on various HIV tools and methods for women and girls is very important because unfortunately, existing HIV prevention methods such as the condoms (including the female condom), abstinence, fidelity and safe male circumcision require male partners’ cooperation and involvement, which is not always guaranteed.
Currently, there are no self-initiated practical tools that women can use discreetly to protect themselves against HIV. And yet the HIV prevalence rate remains higher in women especially young women and adolescents and women account for more than half of the world’s population living with HIV.
The aim of this talk show is to inform about the existing tools and advocate for the speeding up of drafting and implementation of guidelines for methods like PrEP an already existing HIV prevention method that research shows can prevent HIV infection by up to 92% for those who took the medicines consistently.
During the show, ICWEA will also advocate for scaling up of up access to anti-retroviral treatment for people living with HIV, which can significantly suppress or keep the HIV viral load low and therefore minimize women acquiring HIV from their partners.
Because women carry the heaviest burden of the HIV epidemic, they must be put at the centre of policy formulation and programming if we are to realize an HIV and AIDS free era.
Female-initiated prevention products offer new hope in the fight against HIV because they empower women to protect themselves at any time and in turn their children, sexual partners and communities, let us all embrace them. Tune in tonight and join the conversation.
