The Global Fund to Fight AIDS said on Friday (Sept. 29th) that a novel HIV preventive tool, a vaginal ring diffusing an antiviral medicine, will soon be introduced in South Africa, one of the world’s most AIDS-affected nations.
According to the Global Fund to battle AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, three organisations working in the battle against AIDS in South Africa have bought 16,000 rings, which should be available in the upcoming months.
The silicone vaginal ring, which must be changed every month, is modelled after those used for female contraception and gradually releases an antiviral drug called dapivirine.
“We are convinced that this new ring can have a revolutionary impact on the prevention of HIV (the human immunodeficiency virus, which destroys the body’s immune defenses),” explains Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund, in a press release.
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), another preventive measure that has recently transformed prevention against the AIDS virus, is an alternative to the ring.
South African preventive organizations indicate that these other therapies entail taking one tablet per day or getting one injection per month, which are not necessarily appropriate for all persons targeted.
“Women need access to a range of safe and effective solutions, including the dapivirine ring, so that they can adopt the one that suits them best,” stresses Ntombenhle Mkhize, President of the Aids Foundation of South Africa.
According to UNAIDS, 53% of infections will occur in women and adolescent girls worldwide by 2023. One of the highest rates in the world, 13.7% of the population in South Africa still tests positive for HIV.
However, one of the world’s largest HIV treatment programmes, which uses antiretroviral, is being used by more than 5.4 million of the estimated 8.2 million infected persons. This programme has significantly decreased mortality.
Recent clinical trials have demonstrated that the World Health Organization (WHO)-approved dapivirine vaginal ring can reduce the probability of seroconversion, or changing from HIV-negative to HIV-positive, by 35%.
“We hope that many other countries will follow South Africa’s lead”, added Peter Sands of the Global Fund.
The gadget has also received approval and been made available in a number of other African nations, including Zimbabwe, Uganda, and Kenya.
