Govt urged to fund AIDS study
May 14, 2010
THE Government should support alternative ways of preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS, the director general of the Uganda AIDS Commission, Dr. Kihumuro Apuuli, has urged.
By Nigel Nassar
THE Government should support alternative ways of preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS, the director general of the Uganda AIDS Commission, Dr. Kihumuro Apuuli, has urged.
“While a lot of money is spent on treating the infected, funding for preventive initiatives like the research on Microbicides gets lesser,†he said on Thursday during a key stakeholders meeting by the Makerere University - John Hopkins University research collaboration.
Microbicides are gels applied into the vagina before sex to kill bacteria and viruses like HIV on contact.
However, they have worked in the laboratory and on animals. Research is now being carried out to determine whether they can also work in humans.
Addressing a team of MPs representing the HIV parliamentary committee, Kihumuro said: “Prevention might be the way to beat this biggest challenge mankind has ever faced, and the research on Microbicides is a big step towards achieving that.â€
Researchers said although earlier microbicide researches were not effective, another by the Microbicide Trials Network (MTN), could be successful because the Microbicides being used are ARV-based.
Dr. Clemesia Nakabiito, MTN’s principal investigator, said: “Microbicides made out of ARVs might be the solution.â€
Microbicides are meant to prevent HIV infection among women because they are more vulnerable biologically, socially and economically.
THE Government should support alternative ways of preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS, the director general of the Uganda AIDS Commission, Dr. Kihumuro Apuuli, has urged.
“While a lot of money is spent on treating the infected, funding for preventive initiatives like the research on Microbicides gets lesser,†he said on Thursday during a key stakeholders meeting by the Makerere University - John Hopkins University research collaboration.
Microbicides are gels applied into the vagina before sex to kill bacteria and viruses like HIV on contact.
However, they have worked in the laboratory and on animals. Research is now being carried out to determine whether they can also work in humans.
Addressing a team of MPs representing the HIV parliamentary committee, Kihumuro said: “Prevention might be the way to beat this biggest challenge mankind has ever faced, and the research on Microbicides is a big step towards achieving that.â€
Researchers said although earlier microbicide researches were not effective, another by the Microbicide Trials Network (MTN), could be successful because the Microbicides being used are ARV-based.
Dr. Clemesia Nakabiito, MTN’s principal investigator, said: “Microbicides made out of ARVs might be the solution.â€
Microbicides are meant to prevent HIV infection among women because they are more vulnerable biologically, socially and economically.