A quarterly international newsletter on sexuality, sexual health, and sexuality education.
Volume 3, Issue 2 - Summer 2004
Ford Foundation Releases Article on Micromicides
A recent article in the Ford Foundation Report profiles the importance of the development of microbicides for women in India, where clinical trials are currently taking place. Microbicides are gels, lotions, creams or suppositories that, when applied vaginally or rectally will prevent the transmission of HIV.These will ultimately be available in both contraceptive and non-contraceptive forms.
These trials are not only proving the effectiveness of microbiocides, they are serving as a catalyst for HIV-prevention outreach and education.
The article profiles two clinical trial participants, neither of whom knew anything about HIV until they began participating in the trials. One participant, a 34-year old mother of two, says,"Abstinence will not work-our husbands would kick us out of our homes. And condoms are male controlled. Men decide whether to use them.With microbicides we can rely on ourselves, without depending on men. Current methods are not enough to protect us.The government should make these products available to us. They should promote them.And they should be cheap enough so that poor women can use them. I would advise other women to use the products, and I am telling other women to participate in the trials."
The trials, and microbicide promotion generally, also provide an opportunity for people to discuss gender inequity. In the Ford Foundation article, Bobby Ramakant, a volunteer with the Global Campaign for Microbicides says, "if you want to realize the larger public health goal of protection options for women, you have to address the issue of female empowerment in general." He continues, "even if 10 years down the line we don't have a microbicide, the campaign for them enables a conversation about the issues and helps to work on gender equality issues.A woman shouldn't have to rely on the mercy of a man to use a condom. If you put micrbicides in that context it is definitely a rights issue."
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