SHR Africa Trust Champions Adoption of Dapirivine Vaginal Ring for HIV/AIDS Prevention
SHR Africa Trust intensifies HIV/AIDS prevention efforts, urging adoption of Dapirivine Vaginal Ring and other strategies, writes Tionge Hara.
Mzuzu, Malawi - In a bid to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS, civil society organization (CSO) SHR Africa Trust has escalated its efforts to advocate for the adoption of the Dapirivine Vaginal Ring (DVR) and other prevention strategies, writes Tionge Hara.
SAT Country Director Robert Mangwazu Phiri emphasized the efficacy of the vaginal ring, which reportedly boasts a 54 percent effectiveness rate in HIV prevention, as demonstrated in successful test trials conducted by various research centres.
Speaking to the media, Phiri explained that the University of Carolina's tests on the DVR had proven its superior effectiveness, necessitating its wider implementation.
He shed further light on the subject during the interview.
Tchangani Tembo, the Clinical Research Coordinator from the University of Carolina, also commented on the HIV biomedical prevention tests conducted on the DVR. He revealed that while the results have been encouraging, awaiting policy guidelines and approvals remains a crucial step.
Tembo highlighted the findings from open-label blinded clinical trials, indicating a 54 percent reduction rate in HIV prevention among individuals, particularly women, who face challenges accessing other preventive measures.
He expanded on this aspect during the interview.
Rose Cross, a participant in the advocacy campaign and a member of the Malawi News Agency (MANA), commended SAT-Malawi for recognizing the vital role of the media in promoting awareness and understanding of the DVR.
Cross expressed gratitude for the engagement and pledged to continue fulfilling the media's responsibility of educating and informing the public about the DVR.
In related statistics, recent surveys conducted in Malawi have revealed that HIV prevalence among adults stands at 8.9 percent, meaning that approximately 946,000 adults are currently living with HIV.
Notably, the prevalence among women is twice as high as among men within each five-year age group between the ages of 20 and 39.
As SHR Africa Trust intensifies its efforts and garners support for the adoption of the Dapirivine Vaginal Ring, the organization aims to contribute significantly to HIV/AIDS prevention and the overall well-being of the Malawian population.