IRMA-led Global Collaboration Supports Lubricant Advocacy Projects in Africa

Social marketing material developed by Centre for Popular Education and Human Rights, a 2014 GLAM grantee in Ghana

AVAC, amfar, COC Netherlands and International Rectal Microbicide Advocates (IRMA) are pleased to announce seven Global Lube Access Mobilisation (GLAM) awards to projects in Africa.

GLAM, an initiative of IRMA’s Project ARM (Africa for Rectal Microbicides) in collaboration with amfAR, AVAC, and COC Netherlands, promotes advocacy in support of increased access to safe, condom-compatible lubricants for all Africans who engage in anal and vaginal intercourse, including GMT (gay men and other men who have sex with men, and transgender individuals) and heterosexual men and women.

In response to a request for proposals widely disseminated in February 2014, GLAM partners received 36 proposals representing 17 African countries (Botswana, Cameroun, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe). A diverse team of 20 advocates and public health professionals with an interest in lubricant access in Africa (from Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, Zambia, Liberia, South Africa, Rwanda, Benin, Canada, Netherlands and the United States) reviewed the proposals.

Seven projects were selected for funding. These projects began in early July 2014 and will complete their efforts in December 2014. Following is a list of these projects.

Alternatives Cameroun (Douala, Cameroun)
Working in collaboration with other organizations in Douala and Yaoundé, Alternatives Cameroun plans to organize meetings and workshops with health officials and other HIV stakeholders in the country. The meetings and workshops will underscore the importance of providing safe, condom-compatible lubricant as part of comprehensive HIV and STI prevention programming. These activities support the ultimate goal of developing and securing a channel for the distribution of safe, condom-compatible lubricant throughout Cameroun.

Centre for Popular Education and Human Rights (Accra, Ghana)
Centre for Popular Education and Human Rights (CEPEHRG) will campaign to increase access, availability, and use of safe, affordable, condom-compatible lubricant by all who engage in sexual intercourse in Ghana, with special attention given to the LGBT community. The group will call for the inclusion of condom-compatible lubricant in the national essential drug list. Educational and social marketing efforts will take place at the community outreach level and through CEPEHRG’s national advocacy work.

Centre Stage Media Arts Foundation (Bulawayo, Zimbabwe)
Centre Stage Media Arts Foundation (CSMA) will convene policy advisory seminars to engage stakeholders from the Ministry of Health, legislators and members of civil society in support of three goals. One, integrate access to safe, condom-compatible lubricant in the Zimbabwe National HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan. Two, advocate for inclusion of lube as a line item in the national HIV prevention budget. Three, campaign for policy and program changes to allow for the distribution of lube through the same public health distribution channels that condoms are distributed through. A policy brief on the integration of lube access into national HIV prevention policies and programs will be produced. Traditional and social media will be utilized.

Community Health Education Services & Advocacy (Dar es Salaam, Tanzania)Securing government leadership and commitment to amend the national condom policy and include the provision of safe, condom-compatible lubricant in public health facilities is the chief goal of Community Health Education Services & Advocacy (CHESA). The group will work to build multi-sectorial awareness of the importance of lubricant and will engage the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, health care practitioners, community based organizations, as well as members of the GMT community. The public health message will be “Condom Compatible Lubricant Reduces New HIV Infections.”

Men Against AIDS Youth Group (Kisumu, Kenya)
Men Against AIDS Youth Group (MAAYGO) seeks to increase access to safe, condom-compatible lubricants through several methods. The group will conduct a needs assessment and implement a targeted advocacy campaign in Kisumu County for the GMT community, health care workers, and policy makers. Educational workshops will be conducted with the goal of developing a cadre of lube access advocates who will work to improve government policies and programs. A print/social marketing campaign highlighting the importance of lubricant access in HIV/STI prevention programming will be launched.

New HIV Vaccine and Microbicide Advocacy Society (Lagos, Nigeria)
The strategy New HIV Vaccine and Microbicide Advocacy Society (NHVMAS) will take to improve lubricant access in Nigeria will be to create public demand for these important products for both men and women. Advocacy will be conducted at the state and national levels to promote government investment in lube access. NHVMAS will utilize its listserv, engage the media, and conduct trainings to enhance community awareness of the importance of safe, condom-compatible lubricant in HIV/STI prevention programming.

Partners in Health Research and Development (Thika, Kenya)
The work of Partners in Health Research and Development (PHRD) will seek to improve knowledge of and access to condoms and safe, condom-compatible lubricant among key populations in Kenya. In addition, the group will undertake actions in support of the establishment of a sustainable condom and lubricant delivery system. Sensitisation sessions will be conducted for stakeholders including HIV prevention advocates, civil society coalitions, policy makers, government officials, donors, condom distributors and the media. The inclusion of safe, condom-compatible lubricant in the National Strategic Plan is one of the project’s key projected milestones.


Related materials:

Click here for the GLAM Toolkit in English in French.

The GLAM initiative supported three African projects in 2013. Click here for a GLAM PowerPoint presentation that includes information on these projects.

Click here to access the Project ARM report, "On the Map: Ensuring Africa's Place in Rectal Microbicide Research and Advocacy", published in 2012.

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*Join IRMA's robust, highly-active. moderated, global listserv addressing rectal microbicide research and advocacy as well as other interesting new HIV prevention technologies by contacting us at rectalmicro@gmail.com. Joining our listserv automatically makes you a member of IRMA - a network of more than 1,100 advocates, scientists, policy makers and funders from all over the world.

*Please look for us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/InternationalRectalMicrobicideAdvocates, and you can follow us on Twitter: @rectalmicro.

  *Also, please note that shared news items from other sources posted on this blog, Facebook, and Twitter do not necessarily mean IRMA has taken any position on the article's content.

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Those Lube Stickers Aren’t Just For Show!

by Mike Wilson
(former IRMA intern, IRMA advocate forever)

 Hello IRMA! It feels like I have not said that greeting in ages. I may not be an intern with the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, but I have certainly not left behind my engagement with (and love of) IRMA and other HIV prevention organizations.

Since leaving the IRMA internship I have been working as a Youth Advocate for a teen center in the greater Chicago area. While I will honestly attest to the fact that working with the teens at the center and local community has been a rewarding experience, it has not come without its fair share of awkwardness - most notably the “pearl clutching” that occurs when people ask me what I did before working at the teen center.

And to be fair, it hasn’t all been “pearl clutching.” The community in this area is absolutely fantastic, I have been surprised time and time again at how committed this community is to its teens and families. And as my husband and I move to upstate New York, we can only hope that we find ourselves in a community as dedicated to the concept of community. Particularly among the teens there has been a surprising interest in discussing HIV prevention methods - so hopefully the seeds of future activism are being planted.

Along with this surprising interest, there has been confusion and silence as I get the feeling that many of the teens (and members of the community) are ignorant of the HIV/AIDS battle being fought not even a mile away in the city of Chicago. Though the mostly white, fairly wealthy families of this area are privileged enough to not be the face of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Chicago, but within that privilege they often find themselves shut off from understanding how real and close this epidemic is. Perhaps the best way to explain this is by discussing what happened last weekend.

In an effort to get teens involved in volunteer work, our center leads monthly trips into Chicago to a soup kitchen to let the teens learn about experiences other than their own and to learn the importance of community engagement and volunteerism. These trips involve meeting at the center and then piling into the cars of various staff members.

However, this time, as I was closing up the center doors, teens had began to make their way into the parking lot. A group of four teens happened to notice a small blue Neon that has a few (too many) bumper stickers on the back. Interestingly enough, these teens didn’t know that this was my car. As I approached the group to let them in my car, I could hear them laughing and one of them saying “And Lube? And Lube? What the hell?” To which, the group continued to laugh more than I thought someone could at the concept of lubricant.

Not sure how to proceed I walked through the group and unlocked the car. There was this awkward pause as the teens looked at me, in shock that they were making fun of bumper stickers on a car that they didn’t know was mine. I opened my door to get in and the teens still stood, seeming hesitant. To which I just said, “well lube matters” and quickly followed that with “ok, now come on. We’re going to be late”. And they hurried into the car.

Even with the radio on, there was an awkward silence in the car. The teens were clearly worried that I may have been upset and I was attempting to figure out how to best explain that I wasn’t upset with them, but still reinforce some message about GLAM (Global Lube Access Mobilization) and the “And Lube” campaign.

Suddenly, the silence was broken. “So, uh, Mike... yeah... we weren’t making fun of your car. It’s just, having a sticker about lube isn’t something you see everyday”.

To which I laughed a bit. “Oh please, I wouldn’t care if you made fun of this car. I’m a grad student, of course my car isn’t wonderful.”

To which a teen perked up in his seat. “So what? Do the stickers hold the car together?” The teens laughed, I couldn’t help but join in a bit.

“More or less,” I responded. “And really guys, don’t worry about it.”

“So I have to ask, what does ‘And Lube’ mean?”

“Well, the ‘And Lube’ campaign is exactly what it sounds like. It’s about advocating for proper lubricant along with condoms in the fight against HIV/AIDS.”

“Why would you need that?”

“Well, as I’m sure you’ve discussed in health classes. Condoms can break, or slip, or tear. And that can make them problematic for HIV/AIDS prevention. Having proper lubricant along with condoms helps prevent those issues and thus helps to prevent new HIV infections.”

And then the most wonderful reply came: “makes sense.”

There were many ways that I could have handled this situation. My first instinct, honestly, was to just say something along the lines of “lube access isn’t funny,” but I didn’t want to come across as overly judgmental. And in all honesty, before I worked with IRMA, I don’t think I would have thought any differently than this group of teens that I already know are well-engaged.

Yes, this situation may have been awkward at first. But it was a great opportunity to explore that awkwardness and get in some activism. It is surprising how much a sticker can get someone talking and it is even more surprising to see someone engage with that humor and to then be reminded that activism is about education and engagement after all.



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*Join IRMA's robust, highly-active. moderated, global listserv addressing rectal microbicide research and advocacy as well as other interesting new HIV prevention technologies by contacting us at rectalmicro@gmail.com. Joining our listserv automatically makes you a member of IRMA - a network of more than 1,200 advocates, scientists, policy makers and funders from all over the world.

*Please look for us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/InternationalRectalMicrobicideAdvocates, and you can follow us on Twitter: @rectalmicro.

*Also, please note that shared news items from other sources posted on this blog do not necessarily mean IRMA has taken any position on the article's content.

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Advocates Applaud Launch of MTN-017, World’s First Phase II Rectal Microbicide Study

[IRMA press release]

 

Trial Design Significantly Enhanced By Strong Community Input

October 2, 2013 – IRMA applauds the launch of the world’s first-ever Phase II rectal microbicide trial. The Microbicide Trial Network’s study, called MTN-017, will test a reduced glycerin formulation of tenofovir gel applied rectally. Volunteers consisting of gay men, other men who have sex with men, and transgender women will participate in the study at sites in the United States and in Thailand, South Africa, and Peru.

“Today feels like every holiday imaginable rolled into one,” said Jim Pickett, chair of International Rectal Microbicide Advocates (IRMA.) “The launch of the MTN-017 study is a milestone long in the making and marks a giant leap forward in the development of safe, effective, acceptable, and accessible products that could be used to prevent HIV during anal intercourse.”

IRMA is pleased to have participated in an intensive community input process with the Microbicide Trials Network that included in-person consultations with advocates and key stakeholders in Thailand, South Africa, Peru and the United States. “The dreams and desires of many men, women, and transgender individuals the world over can be heard loud and clear in the design of the MTN-017 trial. This deep collaboration between scientists and community members is key to the success of this trial and to the rectal microbicide field in general,” said Pickett.

When microbicides were first imagined, they were “vagina-centric.” While many embraced the notion of creating vaginal products women could control, the majority of the HIV/AIDS community— scientists and advocates alike— dismissed the possibility of developing rectal microbicides for use during anal intercourse as an HIV prevention method. It was not considered feasible and the pursuit was seen as hopeless, even laughable. At best, the rectal microbicide field would consist of testing vaginal microbicides for rectal safety, because these products would undoubtedly end up in the rectum despite their intended destination.

IRMA thanks the visionary scientists, advocates and funders like the U.S. National Institutes of Health who bucked prevailing “wisdom” and have remained steadfast in their commitment to developing new HIV prevention methods for use during anal intercourse.

“I feel like we are taking two giant leaps forward today. One in the fight against HIV, and the other in the fight against ignorance and small thinking,” said Pickett.

# # # #

International Rectal Microbicide Advocates (IRMA) is a global network, housed at AIDS Foundation of Chicago, comprised of more than 1,200 advocates, scientists, policy makers and funders focused on rectal microbicide research and advocacy and related issues such as access to safe, condom-compatible lubricants.

Learn more about the MTN-017 study here.

Watch this video “The Rectal Revolution is Here: An introduction to rectal microbicide clinical trials” in English, Spanish, or Thai.

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*Join IRMA's robust, highly-active. moderated, global listserv addressing rectal microbicide research and advocacy as well as other interesting new HIV prevention technologies by contacting us at rectalmicro@gmail.com. Joining our listserv automatically makes you a member of IRMA - a network of more than 1,100 advocates, scientists, policy makers and funders from all over the world.

*Please look for us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/InternationalRectalMicrobicideAdvocates, and you can follow us on Twitter: @rectalmicro.

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Sept 10 at #USCA2013 - Everything You Need to Know About #Anal Health

This Tuesday, September 10 at the United States Conference on AIDS in New Orleans join IRMA and friends from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. for this fun workshop on anal health and rectal microbicide research and advocacy.

Session 5: Imperial 9, Level 4. See ya there - show your rectal pride!

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 *Join IRMA's robust, highly-active. moderated, global listserv addressing rectal microbicide research and advocacy as well as other interesting new HIV prevention technologies by contacting us at rectalmicro@gmail.com. Joining our listserv automatically makes you a member of IRMA - a network of more than 1,200 advocates, scientists, policy makers and funders from all over the world.

*Please look for us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/InternationalRectalMicrobicideAdvocates, and you can follow us on Twitter: @rectalmicro.

 *Also, please note that shared news items from other sources posted on this blog do not necessarily mean IRMA has taken any position on the article's content.

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Adherence to rectal microbicide use among mainly ethnic minority young MSM: lessons from a 3-month placebo gel trial at three US sites [IAS 2013]

Oral paper presented by Alex Carballo-Diéguez at IAS 2013.

 

Click for slides.

Abstract:

Background: Adherence to product use is the cornerstone of microbicide studies. This is the first study to assess how frequently mainly ethnic minority MSM, ages 18-30, with a history of unprotected receptive anal intercourse (RAI) in the prior year, would self-administer gel using a rectal-specific applicator prior to RAI in their everyday lives.

Methods: Recruitment took place in Boston, MA; Pittsburgh, PA, and San Juan, PR. Participants received 40 applicators prefilled with 4mL of hydroxyethylcellulose placebo gel that they could use over 12 weeks. They were asked to self-administer a dose within 90 minutes prior to RAI and report RAI and gel use at least weekly through an interactive voice response system (IVRS). At week 12, they responded to a Computer Assisted Self Interview (CASI) and underwent an in-depth interview. Participants were repeatedly counseled that the study focused on product adherence and that the gel would not protect against HIV.

Results: 124 MSM were enrolled (Mean age 23.1; 41% White, 40% Latino, 8% African American, 11% mixed/other). 95 participants completed the trial (18 were lost to follow up and 11 withdrew). Based on the IVRS, (n=94, 1 missing data), 88 participants had RAI (Median 10 occasions) using gel on 81.1% of occasions (SD 23.3, range 0-100). Based on CASI, (n=86, 9 refused to answer RAI question) 83 participants had RAI (Median 12 occasions) using gel on 81.7% of occasions (SD 26.7; 0-100). Based on CASI, 69% of men typically applied gel immediately before RAI; 40 inconsistent users gave as reasons not having gel with them (85%), forgetting to use it (48%), not wanting to use it (13%), partner refusal (10%) and gel messiness (10%).

Conclusions: Ethnically diverse young MSM with a history of unprotected RAI showed high adherence to gel use. Adherence to product use could potentially be enhanced by improving portability, facilitating the development of routines to counteract forgetfulness, and improving motivation and partner negotiation skills. Participant retention was challenging and needs further study. Two different self-report methods provided convergent results. Limitation: A product of known efficacy could have different uptake than the placebo used in this study.


Click for slides.

 
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*Join IRMA's robust, highly-active. moderated, global listserv addressing rectal microbicide research and advocacy as well as other interesting new HIV prevention technologies by contacting us at rectalmicro@gmail.com. Joining our listserv automatically makes you a member of IRMA - a network of more than 1,200 advocates, scientists, policy makers and funders from all over the world.

*Please look for us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/InternationalRectalMicrobicideAdvocates, and you can follow us on Twitter: @rectalmicro.

*Also, please note that shared news items from other sources posted on this blog do not necessarily mean IRMA has taken any position on the article's content.

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Meet Octavio Vallejo, A Friendly Rectal Microbicide Advocate

Check out this interesting mini-bio of  Octavio Vallejo, the latest in IRMA's "Meet a Friendly Rectal Microbicide Advocate" series on the IRMA website here.  Octavio is one of five new bios posted this week.

Octavio Vallejo
Los Angeles, California, USA

Octavio Vallejo has been working in the HIV prevention field for more than 22 years. As an HIV+ gay Latino man, Octavio has long recognized the need for additional methods of protection for young gay men and other men who have sex with men. His involvement with rectal microbicides came through his interactions with scientists such as Dr. Ian McGowan and Dr. Ross Cranston. Their passion for this issue was contagious and soon Octavio became involved with IRMA's active body of passionate researchers and advocates.


Octavio was drawn to IRMA by its spirit of inclusion and the resolve, resilience, and passion shown by the advocates connected with IRMA. He works for the Capacity Building Assistance program at AIDS Project Los Angeles as a Biomedical Prevention Specialist. This role have given Octavio more opportunities to share evidence-based information to all parties interested in changing the course of the HIV epidemic and educate them about the new generation of prevention tools and approaches.

Currently, Octavio and his fellow staff members are in the process of creating the platform to bring microbicide advocacy to the forefront of all their trainings, educational endeavors and prevention discussions.

Thank you Octavio for your continued dedication to HIV/AIDS prevention advocacy! 

------------------- *Join IRMA's robust, highly-active. moderated, global listserv addressing rectal microbicide research and advocacy as well as other interesting new HIV prevention technologies by contacting us at rectalmicro@gmail.com. Joining our listserv automatically makes you a member of IRMA - a network of more than 1,100 advocates, scientists, policy makers and funders from all over the world.

*Please look for us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/InternationalRectalMicrobicideAdvocates, and you can follow us on Twitter: @rectalmicro.

*Also, please note that shared news items from other sources posted on this blog do not necessarily mean IRMA has taken any position on the article's content. -------------------

Meet Javier Lopez, A Friendly Rectal Microbicide Advocate

Check out Javier Lopez's mini-bio, the latest in IRMA's "Meet a Friendly Rectal Microbicide Advocate" series on the IRMA website here.  Javier is one of five new bios posted this week.

 

Javier Lopez

New York City, USA

Javier Lopez first learned about rectal microbicides when his partner worked for Project Gel in Puerto Rico. Javier was immediately impressed by the creativity of this approach to HIV prevention as promotion of condoms alone is often difficult in all populations.

Soon after, he attended a talk on rectal microbicides by IRMA's Jim Pickett at Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) in New York City. Then he was hooked and snatched up a few "Rectal Pride" stickers that now fabulously adorn his Ipad cover.

Javier has long been an advocate for HIV testing and for years has been involved in the HIV prevention fight in Puerto Rico. During his undergraduate studies he took part in numerous educational sessions for HIV/STI prevention in gay men. Currently, Javier is working as an assistant research scientist at the HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies that seeks to improve intervention screening practices for acute HIV infection in primary care setting in New York City. Soon Javier will be taking his education further as he enters the Masters of Public Health program at Hunter College in New York City.

Javier is also proud to have been a part of the recently launched HIV testing campaign for the CDC called "Reasons/Razones" which targets Latino gay and bisexual men to consider their reasons for getting tested. More information about this exciting campaign is available here.

Javier is excited to be a rectal microbicide advocate because he believes that it is important for this research to continue and that youth of all backgrounds should get involved.

Thank you Javier!

 

------------------- *Join IRMA's robust, highly-active. moderated, global listserv addressing rectal microbicide research and advocacy as well as other interesting new HIV prevention technologies by contacting us at rectalmicro@gmail.com. Joining our listserv automatically makes you a member of IRMA - a network of more than 1,100 advocates, scientists, policy makers and funders from all over the world.

*Please look for us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/InternationalRectalMicrobicideAdvocates, and you can follow us on Twitter: @rectalmicro.

*Also, please note that shared news items from other sources posted on this blog do not necessarily mean IRMA has taken any position on the article's content. -------------------

Meet Stephen McGill, A Friendly Rectal Microbicide Advocate

Find out a little about Stephen McGill in his mini-bio, the latest in IRMA's "Meet a Friendly Rectal Microbicide Advocate" series on the IRMA website here.  Stephen is one of five new bios posted in the past week.

 

Stephen McGill

Monrovia, Liberia 

Stephen McGill, with an extensive background in public health, HIV/AIDS prevention, and human rights advocacy, first came into contact with rectal microbicide advocacy when he joined the highly-active IRMA listserv through the help of ACT UP Philadelphia and Health GAP. As an active member on the listserv, Stephen is able to engage with experts, researchers, and activists on the potential of rectal microbicide research in combating HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa, notably his native Liberia.

Stephen is founder of Stop AIDS in Liberia (SAIL), one of three organizations that received small Global Lube Access Mobilisation (GLAM) grants to advocate for improved access to safe, condom- compatible lubricant So far, Stephen and SAIL have organized stakeholders meetings to promote condom compatible lubricants with other local organizations in Liberia, Sierra  Leone, Guinea, Gambia, and Cote d'Ivoire. In Liberia, Stephen has met with many organizations and media outlets including the Ministry of Gender and Development and the Ministry of Justice.

Stephen would also like to tell IRMA's followers to keep up the great work promoting diversity in advocacy, policy, and research. We are all looking forward to hearing more about Stephen and SAIL's advocacy efforts to improve lube access.

Thanks Stephen! 

 

------------------- *Join IRMA's robust, highly-active. moderated, global listserv addressing rectal microbicide research and advocacy as well as other interesting new HIV prevention technologies by contacting us at rectalmicro@gmail.com. Joining our listserv automatically makes you a member of IRMA - a network of more than 1,100 advocates, scientists, policy makers and funders from all over the world.

*Please look for us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/InternationalRectalMicrobicideAdvocates, and you can follow us on Twitter: @rectalmicro.

*Also, please note that shared news items from other sources posted on this blog do not necessarily mean IRMA has taken any position on the article's content. -------------------

Meet Hailey Gilmore, A Friendly Rectal Microbicide Advocate

Find out a little about Hailey Gilmore in her interesting mini-bio, the latest in IRMA's "Meet a Friendly Rectal Microbicide Advocate" series on the IRMA website here.  Hailey is one of five new bios we are featuring.
 

Hailey Gilmore
San Francisco, California, USA

Hailey Gilmore studied international development in college and was always interested in sexual health promotion and education. While in school she interned at a local non-profit and developed a sex-ed workshop for youth in trade school. During this time she also became a volunteer HIV test counselor. This introduction to sexual health work opened the door for her current position as the Assistant Director of HIV Prevention Intervention Studies at Bridge HIV at the San Francisco Department of Public Health. She has been with Bridge HIV, supporting and coordinating clinical trials, for over four years.

Her organization conducts HIV prevention clinical trials testing HIV vaccines and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and soon, rectal microbicides. Bridge HIV also studies behavioral interventions.

A little over a year ago, her organization was approached by the Microbicide Trials Network about conducting MTN-017, a phase II safety and acceptability study of rectally applied tenofovir gel among gay men, men who have sex with men, and transwomen in the US, Peru, Thailand, and South Africa. Hailey and her colleagues are incredibly excited for the MTN-017 launch later this year.

Hailey is also busy with the HPTN 069 study, or NEXT-PrEP, which is looking at the safety and tolerability of four daily oral regimens of PrEP. She is also analyzing qualitative data about people's motivations to take PrEP to better address advocacy strategies.

Hailey and her group will also soon be hosting a screening of "The Rectal Revolution is Here" in July to engage the San Francisco community on the topic of rectal microbicides.


Hailey would like to encourage IRMA to continue to find additional community allies to partner with - rectal microbicides are just too exciting to not talk about!

Thank you Hailey! 

------------------- *Join IRMA's robust, highly-active. moderated, global listserv addressing rectal microbicide research and advocacy as well as other interesting new HIV prevention technologies by contacting us at rectalmicro@gmail.com. Joining our listserv automatically makes you a member of IRMA - a network of more than 1,100 advocates, scientists, policy makers and funders from all over the world.

*Please look for us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/InternationalRectalMicrobicideAdvocates, and you can follow us on Twitter: @rectalmicro.

*Also, please note that shared news items from other sources posted on this blog do not necessarily mean IRMA has taken any position on the article's content. -------------------

Meet Coco Alinsug, A Friendly Rectal Microbicide Advocate

Check out this interesting mini-bio of  Coco Alinsug, the latest in IRMA's "Meet a Friendly Rectal Microbicide Advocate" series on the IRMA website here.  Coco is one of five new bios posted this week.

  
Coco Alinsung
Boston, Massachusettes, USA

A native of the Philippines and a resident of Lynn, Massachusetts with his partner, Coco Alinsug has made a lifelong commitment to devote his time and energy to social justice, HIV/AIDS prevention, and issues facing LGBT youth.

Coco started his career as an HIV Counselor and Tester at the Gay and Bi Men's Health Program in Beverly, MA and later was appointed as the Executive Director of the North Shore Alliance on GLBT Youth which is funded by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to provide HIV/STI education to youth 14-24 years old - a position he has held for eight years.

Currently Coco works as the Clinical Trials Field Recruitment Manager at The Fenway Institute where he has been for nearly seven years. It was in this role that Coco first came into contact with rectal microbicide advocacy as he was tasked with recruitment for all clinical trials, including the rectal microbicide study called Project Gel.

In his role at Fenway, Coco oversees outreach and recruitment for research studies looking at everything from possible HIV vaccines to microbicides to the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV transmission. Coco and his team travel around New England, educating people about HIV and STD transmission and safer sex practices while also recruiting potential study participants.

Coco is also Chair for Community Education and Recruitment group for both HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) and HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) and sits as a member of the protocol team for two studies, HVTN505 and HPTN069. Coco also is a consultant for various HIV and STD Outreach Programs both in the North Shore and Boston, and sometimes organizes and hosts shows in several clubs.

Coco would also like to encourage IRMA to keep up the good work and always stay fabulous.

Thank you for all your work Coco, and you stay fabulous too!


------------------- *Join IRMA's robust, highly-active. moderated, global listserv addressing rectal microbicide research and advocacy as well as other interesting new HIV prevention technologies by contacting us at rectalmicro@gmail.com. Joining our listserv automatically makes you a member of IRMA - a network of more than 1,100 advocates, scientists, policy makers and funders from all over the world.

*Please look for us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/InternationalRectalMicrobicideAdvocates, and you can follow us on Twitter: @rectalmicro.

*Also, please note that shared news items from other sources posted on this blog do not necessarily mean IRMA has taken any position on the article's content. -------------------

Soooooooo..... Are Lubes Safe?

via Positive Lite, by Marc-André LeBlanc

"This situation is unacceptable. We’re in 2013, for the love of all that is wet and wild! How can we not know the answer to such a fundamental question—are lubes safe?" 

 Here I am again, standing in front of a giant wall of lube options at a local store.

• Water-based, silicone-based, oil-based, hybrid.
• Bottles, tubs, tubes, vats, vials, sachets, packets, pouches, pillows, mix-it-at-home kits.
• Pumpable, flippable, squeezable, scoopable, squirtable, spritzable, speadable.
• Regular, warming, cooling, tingling, numbing.
• Thick, thin, goopy, watery, greasy, sticky, slippery, silky, slick.
• Long lists of unpronounceable chemicals, claims of being organic or all-natural.
• Scents. Flavours. Colours.
• Formulated to look like cum!
• And of course, wildly varying prices.

I’m glad I’m not meeting that guy for another three hours. 

So which lube should I get? Which ones are safe? Which ones should I avoid? 

Who knows!

No, seriously. Who knows? If I don’t, I can only assume nobody else does. After all, I coordinate the global Lube Safety Working Group for IRMA—International Rectal microbicide Advocates. 

This is the shocking reality: more than 30 years into the HIV pandemic, we still have no clear answers on whether sexual lubricants (lubes) increase, decrease, or have no impact on the risk of acquiring HIV and other STIs sexually transmitted infections (STIs). 

Many men, women and transgender individuals all across the globe use sexual lubricants for both vaginal and anal intercourse. We have long promoted the use of male or female condoms with condom-compatible water-based or silicone-based lubes to prevent HIV and other STIs. Lubricants help ensure that condoms don’t break, and that condoms stay on during sex. So, it’s pretty critical we understand if any of these condom-compatible lubes could actually be putting people in harm’s way. 

One thing is clear: we will not get an answer to the lube safety question without advocacy.

Read the rest.

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  *Join IRMA's robust, highly-active. moderated, global listserv addressing rectal microbicide research and advocacy as well as other interesting new HIV prevention technologies by contacting us at rectalmicro@gmail.com. Joining our listserv automatically makes you a member of IRMA - a network of more than 1,100 advocates, scientists, policy makers and funders from all over the world.

*Please look for us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/InternationalRectalMicrobicideAdvocates, and you can follow us on Twitter: @rectalmicro.

*Also, please note that shared news items from other sources posted on this blog do not necessarily mean IRMA has taken any position on the article's content.

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Press Release: More than 500 Endorsers Demand Answers on Lubricant Safety

 

Global coalition of organizations and individuals calls for research agenda to determine safety of sexual lubricants

For Immediate Release

June 12, 2013 – Over 500 organizations and individuals from nearly 60 countries have endorsed a Global Call to Action on Lubricant Safety. They all demand answers on whether sexual lubricants are safe for vaginal and anal intercourse. As the Call to Action points out, there are more questions than answers about the safety of sexual lubricants, and there are concerns that some of the products available on store shelves and at community-based organizations worldwide may actually cause harm.

International Rectal Microbicide Advocates (IRMA) launched the call to action, which prominent organizations across the globe subsequently endorsed, including the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), the Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+), the Global Network of Sex Work Projects, the Johns Hopkins Center for Public Health and Human Rights in the U.S., the Microbicide Trials Network, the Gay Men’s Health Crisis, National Black Gay Men’s Advocacy Coalition, Chicago Women’s AIDS Project, Woodhull Sexual Freedom Alliance, the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation, African Men for Sexual Health and Rights, Terrence Higgins Trust, the Canadian AIDS Society, Asia Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health, and numerous other organizations devoted to sexual health and HIV prevention.

Several lubricant manufacturers—such as Trigg Laboratories (makers of WET), Davryan Laboratories (PROBE), Gel Works Pty (Wet Stuff), The Yes Yes Company (Yes), and Abra Advanced Research International Pte (SuperSlyde)—also joined this overwhelming global demand for answers on lubricant safety.

“After more than thirty years of the HIV pandemic, we still have no clear answers on whether sexual lubricants increase, decrease, or have no impact on the risk of acquiring HIV and other STIs,” said Marc-André LeBlanc, coordinator of IRMA’s International Lubricant Safety Working Group. “This is unacceptable. We urgently need a Lubricant Safety Research Agenda that will provide answers on lubricant safety.”

“Many men, women and transgender individuals all across the globe use sexual lubricants for both vaginal and anal intercourse," said Jim Pickett, IRMA chair. “Public health has long promoted the use of condoms with condom-compatible water-based or silicone-based lubricants to prevent HIV and other STIs. Lubricants help ensure condoms don’t break, and that condoms stay on during sex. So, it’s pretty critical we understand if any of these condom-compatible lubricants could actually be putting people in harm’s way.”

There are hundreds of different sexual lubricants on the market; however, researchers have only tested a few for tissue damage and to preliminarily assess potential impact on HIV and STIs. Because of this and relatively inconclusive results, it is nearly impossible to recommend or argue against specific brands of water-based or silicone-based lubricants.

While releasing this list of endorsers, IRMA continues to promote the development of a lubricant safety research agenda in partnership with advocates, researchers, and manufacturers across the globe. IRMA is working closely with key partners, such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which is conducting lube safety research, and the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which is developing a Lube Safety Research Agenda with its Scientific Advisory Board.

IRMA eagerly awaits the release of data from the CDC’s latest study and PEPFAR’s Lube Safety Research Agenda. The new data and a PEPFAR -endorsed research agenda will move the lube safety issue forward.

“As a lubricant manufacturer, we are committed to working with advocates, funders, researchers and regulators to develop the safest possible products,” stated Sarah Brooks, CEO of Yes Yes Company Ltd. “That is why we enthusiastically endorse the Global Call to Action on Lubricant Safety. We want to be active partners by lending our expertise as a lubricant manufacturer.”

# # # #

Founded in 1985 by community activists and physicians, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) is a catalyst for local, national, and international action against HIV/AIDS.

International Rectal Microbicide Advocates (IRMA) is a global network, housed at AFC, comprised of more than 1,200 advocates, scientists, policy makers and funders focused on rectal microbicide research and advocacy and related issues such as the safety of sexual lubricants.

See the Global Call to Action on Lubricant Safety and the complete list of endorsers here.

Learn more about lubricant safety here.

 

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*Join IRMA's robust, highly-active. moderated, global listserv addressing rectal microbicide research and advocacy as well as other interesting new HIV prevention technologies by contacting us at rectalmicro@gmail.com. Joining our listserv automatically makes you a member of IRMA - a network of more than 1,100 advocates, scientists, policy makers and funders from all over the world.

 

*Please look for us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/InternationalRectalMicrobicideAdvocates, and you can follow us on Twitter: @rectalmicro. *Also, please note that shared news items from other sources posted on this blog do not necessarily mean IRMA has taken any position on the article's content.

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Announcing Version 2.0 of the GLAM Toolkit for lube access advocacy in Africa– now in French and English

Today IRMA, in collaboration with amfAR and AVAC, is excited to release a re-designed Version 2.0  of the GLAM Toolkit: Advocacy to improve access to safe, condom-compatible lubricant in Africa. The Toolkit is now available in French in addition to English – making it more useful for Francophone speakers in Africa – and the new design makes it easier for advocates to use.

And it looks great!

The Toolkit provides background on the status of lubricant (lube) access in Africa and suggests potential strategies for civil society and government partners to secure and distribute sustainable supplies of safe, condom-compatible lube. Global Lube Access Mobilisation (GLAM) is a campaign of IRMA’s Project ARM (Africa for Rectal Microbicides) initiative.

They are available on the IRMA blog here where you can also learn more about GLAM and Project ARM. And the Toolkits can be downloaded as PDFs in French and English from the IRMA website.

In April, IRMA, amfAR and AVAC announced three grants to organizations in Liberia, Zambia and Nigeria to campaign for access to safe, condom-compatible lubricants in their communities. Learn more about these grants here.

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*Join IRMA's robust, highly-active. moderated, global listserv addressing rectal microbicide research and advocacy as well as other interesting new HIV prevention technologies by contacting us at rectalmicro@gmail.com. Joining our listserv automatically makes you a member of IRMA - a network of more than 1,200 advocates, scientists, policy makers and funders from all over the world.

*Please look for us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/InternationalRectalMicrobicideAdvocates, and you can follow us on Twitter: @rectalmicro.

 *Also, please note that shared news items from other sources posted on this blog do not necessarily mean IRMA has taken any position on the article's content. -------------------

Don't Upset This Rectal Microbicide Advocate!

by Mike Peters
IRMA Intern

A couple of weeks ago, I returned to Ohio for a weekend excursion.  The director of the Women's Studies program at my university informed me that I was named Graduate Student of the Year for Women's Studies and that there was a short awards ceremony that I should attend.  In preparation for this ceremony I was asked to dress nice, write a short bio of myself for the Dean of Liberal Arts to read, and to briefly say a few grateful words at the ceremony.

As excited and grateful as I was about this honor, I could not help but wonder what my interaction with the Dean of Liberal Arts would be like.  Perhaps some background information is necessary here.  My university is in Ohio, and Ohio, like so many other states, is facing a lot of economic issues in education.  During my last year on campus extreme budget cutbacks were made to Liberal Arts (while the basketball stadium and the Student Union were remodeled, and the basketball team was taking a trip to Italy).  Not only were these budget cuts devastating, but they were disturbing.  Six program directors, all women, were informed that they were being forced out of their directorships and required to teach additional classes.  These women, from fields that happened to focus on minority issues (Women's Studies, African and African-American Studies, International Studies, and so on), were to also be replaced  by a new dean of interdisciplinary studies that happened to be a white, heterosexual male as a cost-saving measure and way to increase course enrollment revenue.

Now, perhaps the male that would be replacing them had a strong background in interdisciplinary studies and could discuss minority issues with some level authority and expertise.  It was still utterly disturbing that these women were being removed from their leadership roles when they were all six some of the most respected educators on campus.  I suppose this is where my relationship with the Dean gets a little tricky.  In response to these budget cuts, I worked with three other graduate students as we led multiple protests and demonstrations of civil disobedience on campus – including flooding the Dean's office and taking over an intercom system to read The Vagina Monologues to the entire campus.  So my worry about standing with the Dean and listening to him comment on me was well-founded.

Excitedly, I wrote up a short bio of my educational background and my work new work with IRMA and sent it off to my program director.  On the trip there I worked tirelessly to remind myself to be respectful, not to worry, and to make sure I remembered to thank my various professors for their impact on my work.

On the day of the event my fiancé and I arrived at the auditorium and I was immediately informed that my bio had been edited, because it did not seem family-friendly enough as it used words like "anal", "rectal", and "sex".  Horrified by this reality, I was shuffled on stage and to my seat.  Given that I was being honored for Women's Studies I would be the last person receiving my award, since starting with a "W" the program always was at the end for liberal arts ceremonies, which gave me time to either get my visually-angered self calmed down or to let my anger at this injustice grow.  I chose the latter.

From my standpoint, and from my program director's viewpoint I might add, ignoring research and discussion because the word "anal" appears is not only ignorant, but is downright dangerous, as any member of IRMA certainly knows.  Besides, this is the work that I am doing with my degree, it ought to be celebrated.

So I sat… and sat… and sat.  And then the dean called me up to receive my award.  He read my censored bio as I smiled for the crowd.  Then he asked me to come to the podium to say a few grateful things:

"I'm really happy and thankful to be here today.  I'm also really happy that the Dean has given me a chance to talk about my work.  Right now I am working for IRMA, International Rectal Microbicide Advocates, to advocate for the development of rectal and vaginal microbicides in the global fight against HIV.  I'm very thankful that the education I received here has given me the ability to not be silent, and to actively advocate for proper sexual education as well as access to condoms and safe lubricants for vaginal and anal sex.  I mean let's be honest, HIV is still around and unprotected anal sex is major driver of this epidemic because we don't talk about it as actively as we should.  Thanks for hearing me out today."

Nobody freaked out.  The Dean shook my hand and I received my award.  No one walked out or ridiculed me; in fact a few folks told me that they admired my passion.  And in all seriousness, I was incredibly thankful to have the opportunity to speak about IRMA to people that likely had not heard of it before.  Though to be fair, I had better not ask the Dean for a recommendation letter any time soon.

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*Join IRMA's robust, highly-active. moderated, global listserv addressing rectal microbicide research and advocacy as well as other interesting new HIV prevention technologies by contacting us at rectalmicro@gmail.com. Joining our listserv automatically makes you a member of IRMA - a network of more than 1,200 advocates, scientists, policy makers and funders from all over the world.

*Please look for us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/InternationalRectalMicrobicideAdvocates, and you can follow us on Twitter: @rectalmicro.

*Also, please note that shared news items from other sources posted on this blog do not necessarily mean IRMA has taken any position on the article's content.

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Give Some LOVE to IRMA for Give OUT Day

Condoms are getting some help! 

Dear IRMA members and readers of this blog -

Give OUT Day shines a spotlight on organizations that empower LGBTQ communities across the country, and the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) is among these charities.

We’re using this campaign to highlight the next generation of HIV prevention: rectal microbicides. Though they’re still in development, these agents can be added to things like lubricants that will prevent the transmission of HIV, revolutionizing the way we protect ourselves and others. Condoms are getting some help!

This will greatly benefit gay and bisexual men, transgender individuals, and women because rectal microbicides are developed specifically for anal intercourse—a common human behavior. We need to expand the ways we protect ourselves against HIV, and rectal microbicides are quite promising. With the support of AFC’s global advocacy initiative—International Rectal Microbicide Advocates—scientists have achieved an enormous amount of progress, and we’re tremendously excited about the future.

You have an opportunity to support advocacy efforts that will be instrumental in making rectal microbicides a reality for all who need them.

Learn more by downloading this podcast on rectal microbicides, and visit our Give OUT page to make a contribution today.

Thanks,
Jim Pickett
Chair, International Rectal Microbicide Advocates


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*Join IRMA's robust, highly-active. moderated, global listserv addressing rectal microbicide research and advocacy as well as other interesting new HIV prevention technologies by contacting us at rectalmicro@gmail.com. Joining our listserv automatically makes you a member of IRMA - a network of more than 1,200 advocates, scientists, policy makers and funders from all over the world.

*Please look for us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/InternationalRectalMicrobicideAdvocates, and you can follow us on Twitter: @rectalmicro.

*Also, please note that shared news items from other sources posted on this blog do not necessarily mean IRMA has taken any position on the article's content.

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VIDEO: IRMA's Jim Pickett - Condoms Not Enough in HIV Fight

"Using condoms for your entire sexual life works for some people. And for others, it doesn't." 

Video via Be The Generation

IRMA chair Jim Pickett discusses the need for new ways to prevent HIV, like rectal microbicides.


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 *Join IRMA's robust, highly-active. moderated, global listserv addressing rectal microbicide research and advocacy as well as other interesting new HIV prevention technologies by contacting us at rectalmicro@gmail.com. Joining our listserv automatically makes you a member of IRMA - a network of more than 1,200 advocates, scientists, policy makers and funders from all over the world.

*Please look for us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/InternationalRectalMicrobicideAdvocates, and you can follow us on Twitter: @rectalmicro.

 *Also, please note that shared news items from other sources posted on this blog do not necessarily mean IRMA has taken any position on the article's content.

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Facilitator's Guide for "The Rectal Revolution is Here" Video - English Version NOW Available

As many of our readers  know – in December IRMA, the Microbicide Trials Network, and Population Council launched the video “The Rectal Revolution is Here: An introduction to rectal microbicide clinical trials.” The 14-minute video includes researchers, advocates, and trial participants and discusses the need for rectal microbicides and the role of clinical trials in developing products that are safe and effective. It is available on YouTube in English, Spanish, and Thai and has been watched by several thousand viewers already.

The team has produced a facilitator’s guide to accompany the video, and the English version can be downloaded here.

The guide is meant to be used as a preparation tool for people leading community discussions, workshops, and/or recruitment sessions who will be showing the educational video. You will find simple, clear background information on rectal microbicide research and the clinical trial process as well as helpful hints on using the video.

We are still finalizing versions in Spanish and Thai – and will post them as soon as they are ready to go.

Many, many thanks to our partners at MTN and Population Council for their help and expertise with this guide, our Video Advisory Committee that provided invaluable feedback, our fabulous graphic designer from Toolbox, Inc., and to our intrepid Spanish and Thai translation teams!

If you would like an electronic copy of the video that you can keep on your computer or a flashdrive to be used for presentations, send a note to rectalmicro@gmail.com.

We hope you find this guide helpful!

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*Join IRMA's robust, highly-active. moderated, global listserv addressing rectal microbicide research and advocacy as well as other interesting new HIV prevention technologies by contacting us at rectalmicro@gmail.com. Joining our listserv automatically makes you a member of IRMA - a network of more than 1,200 advocates, scientists, policy makers and funders from all over the world.

*Please look for us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/InternationalRectalMicrobicideAdvocates, and you can follow us on Twitter: @rectalmicro.

*Also, please note that shared news items from other sources posted on this blog do not necessarily mean IRMA has taken any position on the article's content.

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