Translating clinical efficacy into public health effectiveness

via Citizen News Service, by Bobby Ramakant

At the recently concluded XIX International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2012), not only the decibels went up on ending AIDS but also sane voices were heard demanding a well-costed and thought-through strategy on how to end AIDS. One of the strategies that will complement a comprehensive HIV prevention, treatment, care and support plan to end AIDS is preventing HIV transmission. In this context, we need to look beyond the Phase III trials in HIV prevention research so that if the product being tested is proved to be effective, we have the means and well-thought plan to make it available for those people in need, without delay.

The HIV prevention research is certainly going ahead with rectal microbicides phase II efficacy clinical trials (MTN017) about to begin in four countries (US, Thailand, South Africa and Peru), US FDA's approval to use 'Truvada' as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention, vaginal microbicides research and HIV vaccine science progressing ahead, treatment as prevention (TasP) getting a buy-in as never before, among other positive developments that give us hope.

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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Community engagement is key as rectal microbicides research progresses ahead

via Citizen News Service, by Bobby Ramakant

While interviewing a range of experts involved with research, development and advocacy of new HIV prevention tools at the recently concluded XIX International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2012), I was reminded of a transgender woman who had said to me in an interview four years back that: "There is no doubt that we need more HIV prevention options - current options don't work especially for people like us... and this is the only possible reason to motivate me to advocate for new prevention options."

This community expert further added: "...'perfect' technologies that disregard social realities don't necessarily deliver results..." The need to engage affected communities as research moves ahead, and engage them with dignity as equal partners is the key to ensure that finally we develop products that are efficient and also when they become available, are actually used by populations in need.

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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Anal health is not just a gay issue: Women need rectal microbicides too

via Citizen News Service, by Bobby Ramakant

"It is high time that anal health and hygiene comes out of the closet" said Dr Ross Cranston from University of Pittsburgh, USA. Dr Cranston was referring to the multitude of anal health complications people practicing receptive anal sex are likely to be dealing with in their lives and very little quality care and products that exist to relieve them. The awareness level in people (women, men, transgender women) who reported to practice receptive anal sex was abysmally low.

Zero per cent of such respondents had knowledge related to their anal cancer risk, and just half of them knew about Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV - the virus that causes genital herpes). Awareness certainly needs to be upped in people practicing receptive anal sex.

 

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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What kind of prevention do gay men need?

 via aidsmap, by Gus Cairns

How do we stop the hyperepidemic in gay men?

A number of presentations at the 19th International AIDS Conference explored the 'hyperepidemic' of HIV amongst men who have sex with men, and especially black MSM.

A paper presented by Gregorio Millet (pictured above at a White House reception honoring people working in AIDS) showed that, at least in the USA, the extremely high incidence and prevalence of HIV in this group is not driven by higher levels of unsafe sex. Instead, very high prevalence, the ease with which HIV is transmitted during anal sex, and the fact that black men (and some other subpopulations of gay men) have sex within small and multiply-connected networks have created a situation in which HIV is hard to avoid.

Given this, what prevention methods would work in gay men? The one that has been talked about most keenly and which continued to generate a great deal of data and debate at Washington was pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) - taking antiretrovirals (ARVs) to prevent, rather than treat, HIV.

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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Most young Thai MSM define as heterosexual, even if they mainly have sex with men

via aidsmap, by Gus Cairns

A large, randomised sample of 21-year-old Thai men, presented at the 19th International AIDS Conference in Washington recently, has found that by far the largest risk factor for HIV infection is gay identity. Contrary to the oft-quoted saying “it’s not who you are, but what you do,” actual male/male sexual behaviour, while still an important risk factor, was not as strongly associated with being HIV positive as gay identity.

The survey was conducted among over 35,000 army conscripts from all parts of Thailand. All 21-year old Thai men enter a lottery at the age of 21 for conscription into the Thai army and of these half a million young men, 60,00 to 100,000, in any year, are conscripted, twice a year in May and October.

This survey thus constituted a truly randomised, cross-sectional survey of the 21-year-old men who were inducted into the Thai army in May 2011. It was conducted no more than two weeks after induction and therefore serving in the army had no influence on the results. Men from all provinces in Thailand were included and from both urban and rural areas.

The survey found that 7% of respondents had had sex with another man (MSM) but that only 1.1% only had sex with men.

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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Preaching to the choir? Advocating condoms and lubes at AIDS 2012

[Citizen News Service and IRMA are collaborating to amplify rectal microbicide research and advocacy, as well as IRMA-led initiatives, throughout AIDS 2012, and after.]

via Citizen News Service, by Bobby Ramakant

At the recently concluded XIX International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2012), the 'And Lubes' campaign that brought attention to the fact that condoms should be distributed along with lubricants (or lubes) to meet the needs of those practicing anal sex, was certainly not 'preaching to the choir.' Reality was grimmer with AIDS 2012 rightly promoting 'condomize' campaign but without lubes! The way condoms were in the spotlight when AIDS 2012 began lubes weren't. Only until mid-way into the conference when And Lubes campaign repeatedly raised the issue of non-availability of lubes on-site, we could then find more lubes being distributed along with male and female condoms. Even condoms along with lubes in the same sachet were made available!

According to the United Nations joint programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), anal sex considerably increases risk of HIV acquisition. People practicing anal sex are also at a high risk of other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and condoms alone are not enough to protect them from HIV or other STIs. People practicing anal sex, for example, need condoms with safer, affordable, accessible lubes to protect them from HIV and STIs.

“Lubes are not really accessible or affordable to most people in Africa who practice anal sex. Lubes if available are very expensive. Most people might be using water, oil, etc” said Abimbola Williams from Nigeria. Abimbola is an advocate with International Rectal Microbicides Advocates (IRMA).

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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AIDS 2012 And Lube

via Windy City Times, by Jim Pickett


For seven, long, long days I dove into the deep end of the madness that was the International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2012) and various ancillary meetings held in Washington, D.C., last week. It was a mad, mad world of 20,000 plus people from every corner of the planet running to and from non-stop sessions, talks, organizing, networking, marches, protests and talking, talking, talking and noise, noise, noise.

Complete saturation of information, sensory, and emotional overload—by the end my brain felt like a wet sponge that couldn't take on one more drop. And that says nothing about the DC heat and humidity that made the rest of you soggy as well.

I contributed to that all that talking and organizing and noise, taking advantage of the world's largest AIDS gathering to help launch a new effort from the global network of more than 1,200 members I chair called IRMA (International Rectal Microbicide Advocates.) We've identified the critical need for advocacy around access to safe, condom-compatible lube in Africa as part of our new Project ARM—Africa for Rectal Microbicides initiative. Most Africans don't have access to safe, condom-compatible lube.

Condoms and no lube is a terrible great combination when it comes to anal sex. Vaginas have the ability to self-lubricate—our anuses and rectums need a little help from a friend to help ease entry and keep the condom intact. Because there is a paucity of appropriate lubricants in Africa, many people who have anal sex are using things like avocado oil, yogurt, Vaseline, even motor oil—or no lube at all.

The Project ARM effort seeks to ensure that Africa is fully engaged in rectal microbicide research and advocacy so that Africans who have anal sex are central to the development of safe, effective, and acceptable rectal microbicides (which may be produced as lubes with anti-HIV qualities.) Late last year, a group of African advocates and allies met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and strategized a set of priority actions to help pave the way for Africa to be on the rectal microbicide map. The highest priority action the group identified was far and away the issue of lube access. Rectal microbicides are about a decade away from being available—lube access needs to happen now … since it's already too late for yesterday.

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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Meet Carol - a Friendly Rectal Microbicide Advocate

Check out this interesting mini-bio of Carol Odada, the latest in IRMA's "Meet a Friendly Rectal Microbicide Advocate" series on the IRMA website here.  Carol is one of six new bios just posted yesterday, including individuals from Thailand, Kenya and the US.  Each will be featured on the blog, and you can read all of them here right now.



Carol Odada
Nairobi, Kenya

"I stand out strongly as a women's rights champion, and am quite steadfast on the human need for rectal microbicides."

Carol received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Eastern Africa. Since graduating, she has focused on social work, and has helped to develop and implement care and support programs for people living with HIV. She currently works in biomedical HIV prevention research advocacy, and enjoys advocating for women's rights and sexual health rights.

Carol became involved with IRMA when the topic of rectal microbicides was still a relatively new in Kenya. In December of 2011, Carol was one of a number of African leaders who joined IRMA for a two-day strategy meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia that took place in advance of the 16th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa. The meeting officially launched IRMA's Project ARM - Africa for Rectal Microbicides initiative. IRMA recently released a report from that meeting called "On The Map: Ensuring Africa's Place in Rectal Microbicide Research and Advocacy" recommending a set of priority actions for IRMA and allies to better engage Africans across the continent in rectal microbicide activities. Carol played a very important role in helping define those strategies. Learn more about Project ARM, and read the report, here.

She understands that different prevention strategies need to be developed to provide sexual health to the world's population and that rectal microbicides will provide a new tool for women and men regardless of sexual orientation. Specifically, she educates women, young and old, about anal sex.

Currently, Carol is working on a collaboration between AVAC and ATHENA Network called WHiPT - Women's HIV Prevention Tracking Project.

She will soon be a featured speaker in the satellite session "Rectal Microbicides: Making HIV Prevention Gel" at the International AIDS Conference in Washington, DC with other members of IRMA and allies. The session is taking place in the afternoon on Sunday, July 22, 2012 - more info on this event can be found here.

Carol encourages IRMA to keep pushing forward, and believes that a day will come when all of the group's collective work and efforts are fully appreciated.

HIV has taught her to value every person and every opinion. And her five-year-old daughter gives her a reason to wake up and work hard every day. Because of her daughter's influence, she strives to be a better person and tries to give back to the community as much as she can.

Thank you, Carol, for all that you do!


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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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Registration for the XIX International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2012) Opens December 1!

Registration, abstract and programme activity submissions for the XIX International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2012), to be held from 22 to 27 July 2012 in Washington, D.C., open December 1 online at www.aids2012.org.

More than 25,000 participants and 2,000 journalists from approximately 200 countries are expected to convene at the conference, which is predicted to be a landmark event in the history of HIV and AIDS both in the United States and globally.

“Turning the Tide Together”, the theme of the conference, emphasises that we have reached a pivotal moment in time and that seizing this potential and actually turning the tide on HIV and AIDS will require commitment and action on many levels. The conference will be an important and high profile opportunity to reflect on the tension between recent scientific advances which could theoretically end the epidemic, and the current global economic crisis which threatens the funding necessary to implement this scientific knowledge.

“In the last couple of years we have seen some incredibly important breakthroughs in science,” said. Elly Katabira, International Chair of AIDS 2012 and President of the International AIDS Society (IAS). “The results of the CAPRISA trial presented at AIDS 2010 and the data from IAS 2011 proving beyond a doubt that treatment is prevention have shown us that we now have the real potential to change the direction of HIV. Science has provided us with the tools, what we need now is a global political and economic commitment to action. A turbulent economic climate must not halt funding for research and implementation”.

The return of the International AIDS Conference to the United States after more than 20 years represents a victory for public health and human rights and it is the result of dedicated advocacy to end the nation’s misguided entry restrictions on people living with HIV.

“Hosting AIDS 2012 in the U.S will be an occasion to highlight the disparities in access to treatment and care which exist in the country.” said Diane Havlir, Local Co-Chair of AIDS 2012. “We hope for a broad and active participation from all of those affected by the HIV epidemic, particularly people living with HIV and AIDS, policy-makers and key affected populations”.

Together with delegate and media registration, 1 December is the opening day for online abstract submissions. Over half of all conference sessions will be abstract-driven and all of the submissions will go through an extensive peer-reviewed process in order to guarantee the highest caliber of state-of-the-art science. The online abstract submission closes on 15 February 2012 and reopens on 19 April 2012 for late breaker abstract submissions.

In addition to the conference sessions, AIDS 2012 will feature a set of workshops open to delegates. Workshops will fall under professional development, community skills and leadership skills. Online submissions for workshops open on 1 December 2011 and close on 15 February 2012.

AIDS 2012 will host a Global Village, open to conference delegates and the general public, aimed at intensifying the involvement of key affected populations and other stakeholders in the conference. The conference also presents a Youth Programme with the goal of strengthening the participation of young people and youth issues in the conference through activities such as youth-driven sessions. From today it is possible to submit applications for both the Global Village and the Youth Programme. Both the submissions close on 15 February 2012.

With over 7,000 square metres of prime exhibition space AIDS 2012 offers both commercial and non-commercial organizations the opportunity to showcase their products and services to a wide public. Exhibitor applications open on December 1 and close on 25 May 2012. Exhibition space is limited so early bookings are strongly encouraged.

Various satellite meetings will take place in the conference centre during AIDS 2012. These satellite meetings are fully organized and coordinated by the organization hosting the satellite. The satellite slots are available for a fee and the applications open on 1 December and close on 31 March 2012.


From 8 December online applications for scholarships will be open. The International and Media Scholarship Programme is open to everyone around the world and is aimed at making the conference accessible to people from resource-limited settings and communities. Priority is given to those whose participation will help enhance their work in their own communities. A limited number of scholarships will be also available for media representatives.

More information on registration process and registration fees is available here: http://www.aids2012.org/Default.aspx?pageId=368


[If an item is not written by an IRMA member, it should not be construed that IRMA has taken a position on the article's content, whether in support or in opposition.]

Jim Pickett speaks at the Australasian HIV/AIDS Conference 2010

Today AFC Advocacy Director Jim Pickett gave a plenary presentation at the Australasian HIV/AIDS Conference 2010 in Sydney, Australia. His talk, “Yes, There is a Gay Agenda: The need to re-conceptualize HIV prevention in the epidemic’s third decade” was part of the session titled “Re-Thinking Prevention.”

Pickett discussed HIV prevention in the United States context and provided insights into the U.S. Gay Men’s Health Agenda, Chicago’s “How are you healthy?” campaign, the U.S. National HIV/AIDS Strategy, sexual health, and biomedical prevention. Click here to view his slide set.

Yesterday Pickett co-chaired a symposium called “Political, Cultural, and Logistic Realities of Microbicides for Australasia and the Pacific” and sat on a number of panels discussing STI prevention and gay men’s health.

Read more about the Australasian HIV/AIDS Conference 2010 and invited speakers.

BE HEARD! - Presentations Now Available from AIDS 2010 Event

Condoms Aren’t Enough! 
Will Pills and Lubes Define the Future Of Sex? 
Click 'n Learn right here!

More than 100 of the world's top experts on human rights and HIV among sexual minorities led presentations and workshops in Vienna on July 17 at BE HEARD, an all-day conference event that addressed soaring global rates of HIV among men who have sex with men (MSM). The event preceded the launch of AIDS 2010, the XVIII International AIDS Conference (IAC) and had nearly 600 participants.

IRMA was an event sponsor and Steering Committee members Ian McGowan, Jorge Sanchez, Roger Tatoud and Jim Pickett led a 2-hour session with other top researchers including Drs.Gaudensia  Mutua, Jorge Saavedra and Patrick Wilson called "Condoms Aren’t Enough! Will Pills and Lubes Define the Future Of Sex? An Overview of New HIV Prevention Tools in Development."

Below are 5 of the presentations - please give each of them a click and learn. The first - directly below - begins with Dr. Mutua's talk - "Basic Concepts about AIDS Vaccine Research."

 

Hosted by the Global Forum on MSM & HIV (MSMGF), BE HEARD focused on challenges and solutions to achieving universal access to HIV-related prevention, care, treatment, and support services for sexual minority communities worldwide.

HOT - IRMA pics from AIDS 2010

IRMA at AIDS 2010

Please feel free to include your AIDS 2010 snapshots right on Picasa, or send them to rectalmicro@gmail.com and we will add them for you. We'd love to include them in our collection.

New evidence shows better healthcare for gay men equals better HIV outcomes for general population

via Fridae.com, by Laurindo Garcia

A decline in HIV prevalence among the general population has been achieved through improvements to HIV prevention and treatment services for gay men, and other men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM). Fridae's Laurindo Garcia reports from Vienna.

This new, compelling data, was presented on Saturday in Vienna, Austria by researchers from the Johns Hopkins Center for Public Health and Human Rights.

Analyses from four countries - Malawi, Peru, Thailand and Ukraine – demonstrated that when HIV among MSM was properly addressed through adequate services and treatment, the broader community benefited dramatically. Statistical models from all four countries showed a downturn in general prevalence of HIV after targeted interventions addressed the specific needs of gay men and MSM.

The breakthrough announcement was made by researcher Chris Beyrer, MD in the lead-up to the start of the 2010 International AIDS Conference. Beyrer’s survey was part of an investigation into the global HIV epidemic among MSM, supported by the World Bank.

Read the rest.

Six Challenges to Delivering Treatment as Prevention

Via PlusNews

Using HIV treatment to drastically reduce transmission of the virus is the big issue at the International AIDS Conference in Vienna; scientists and health workers are optimistic but recognize that scaling up treatment will not be easy, especially for poor countries. IRIN/PlusNews has put together a list of six potholes in the road to significantly increasing HIV treatment coverage in Africa.

For more click here.

Positive Results from a Microbicide Trial - an overview of media coverage

The HIV prevention world is abuzz with excitement following news of the first clinical evidence that a vaginal gel - known as a microbicide - can help to prevent sexual transmission of HIV infection.

A study by the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA) found that a vaginal gel containing the antiretroviral (ARV) drug tenofovir was 39 percent effective in reducing a woman's HIV risk when used for about three-quarters of sex acts and 54 percent effective when used more consistently. It also halved the incidence of genital herpes infections.

“Tenofovir gel could fill an important HIV prevention gap by empowering women who are unable to successfully negotiate mutual faithfulness or condom use with their male partners,” said Quarraisha Abdool Karim, one of the lead investigators of the study and associate director of Caprisa. “This new technology has the potential to alter the course of the HIV epidemic, especially in southern Africa where young women bear the brunt of this devastating disease.”

To learn more visit the following stories:
 
Scientific American: Vaginal gel shows effectiveness in preventing HIV in women
Science Express: At Last, Vaginal Gel Scores Victory Against HIV and Effectiveness and Safety of Tenofovir Gel, an Antiretroviral Microbicide, for the Prevention of HIV Infection in Women
New York Times: Study Offers Two Paths To Cut H.IV. Rate For African Women
Wall Street Journal Online: Gel Cuts AIDS, Herpes Risk For Women
Financial Times Online: HIV Infections Halved By Gel Treatment
Associated Press: Anti-AIDS Gel Helps Prevent Infection, Study Finds
Reuters: AIDS Gel With Gilead Drug Protects Women In Study and FACTBOX - Trial Shows An AIDS Gel Can Protect Women
Agence France-Presse: Major Step Seen In Quest For Anti-HIV Vaginal Gel
Aidsmap: Tenofovir-Based Microbicide Gel Reduces Risk of Infection for Women by 39%
BBC: Scientists Say Vaginal Gel Cuts HIV-Infections By Half
Washington Post: Vaginal Gel Cuts Risk Of HIV Infection, Study Shows
US News & World Report: Vaginal Gel Cuts Risk Of HIV Infection, Study Shows
The Guardian: HIV infection risk for women halved by gel – study and HIV breakthrough as scientists discover new vaccine to prevent infection
All Africa: Finally, Positive Results From a Microbicide Trial
CBS News: Anti-AIDS Gel Halves Infection Risk, Study Finds
Mail and Guardian: Aids infection risk for women halved by gel, says study
BuaNews: Study On Risk-Reducing Gel Welcomed

World's Largest Conference on Health and Rights of Gay Men [co-sponsored by IRMA] to Address Worsening Global AIDS Crisis

Press Release

[IRMA is an event sponsor and Steering Committee members Ian McGowan, Jorge Sanchez, Roger Tatoud and Jim Pickett are leading a 2-hour session with other top researchers called "Condoms Aren’t Enough! Will Pills and Lubes Define the Future Of Sex? An Overview of New HIV Prevention Tools in Development." Thanks to IRMA, interpretation services will be available in a number of languages for select sessions.]

UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe and 

US Congresswoman Barbara Lee to join 

Global Fund Executive Director Michel Kazatchkine, 

Research Experts and Activists 

in Vienna for Day-Long Event

More than 100 of the world's top experts on human rights and HIV among sexual minorities will lead presentations and workshops in Vienna on July 17 at BE HEARD, an all-day conference event to address soaring global rates of HIV among men who have sex with men (MSM). BE HEARD is the largest gathering to focus on the disproportionate impact of HIV among gay men. The event will precede the launch of AIDS 2010, the XVIII International AIDS Conference (IAC).

Hosted by the Global Forum on MSM & HIV (MSMGF), BE HEARD will focus on challenges and solutions to achieving universal access to HIV-related prevention, care, treatment, and support services for sexual minority communities worldwide. The event comes at a time when MSM in low- and middle-income countries are 19 times more likely to be infected with HIV than the general population, yet only one in five has access to the HIV prevention, care and treatment services they need.

"MSM have been at disproportionately high risk of HIV infection since the epidemic started," said George Ayala, Executive Officer of the MSMGF. "Yet our issues remain severely underrepresented at the international level. As prevalence rates among MSM are surpassing 30 percent in countries rich and poor alike, there is no time to waste. BE HEARD is one of very few dedicated venues to focus on this staggering crisis."

The day will feature work by activists from around the world, as well as plenary speeches from UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe, US Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Global Fund Executive Director Michel Kazatchkine, and AIDS-Free World Co-Director Stephen Lewis, among others. The program will highlight a wide array of the most pressing health and human rights issues facing sexual minorities today, including the criminalization of homosexuality, new biomedical approaches to HIV prevention, and the spread of HIV among men who have sex with men in low- and middle-income countries.

Click here for the program.

BE HEARD is the largest event of its kind, with over 600 attendees from more than 100 countries. The attendance of activists from low- and middle-income countries has been a high priority for the organizers, reflected by an extensive scholarship program for participants from the global south. Due in part to this scholarship program, more than 50 percent of registered attendees will be traveling to the conference from low- and middle-income countries.

The MSMGF launched the biennial event in 2004 as a "pre-conference" to the International AIDS Conference in response to concerns that MSM health and human rights issues are often ignored at local and international levels.
"We are disappointed that such neglect remains reflected in the program of this year's International AIDS Conference," Ayala said.

"Only 2 percent of all scheduled sessions specifically address the needs of MSM. BE HEARD aims to counter this invisibility and silence."

The event will run from 8:30AM to 6:00PM on Saturday, July 17, at the Vienna University of Economics and Business. A 7:30PM reception will follow at Heuriger Fuhrgassl-Huber (Ottakringer st 222-224, 1160 Wien 1160 Vienna), hosted by the Office of the Mayor of Vienna. MSMGF will also hold a 1:30PM press conference on July 20 at IAC Press Conference Room 1 that will address the current state of health and human rights of sexual minorities worldwide, including a discussion of selected findings from BE HEARD.