Tia IRMA is BACK with her Second Video on Rectal Microbicide Awareness

You met Tia IRMA (Auntie IRMA), a character created by IRMA's South American chapter IRMA-ALC (housed at Epicentro) to create awareness about rectal microbicides in a fun way, in this post from March 2012.

This is the second in a series of videos that will try to explain, in a very colloquial and humorous way, everything you might want to know about rectal microbicides, PrEP and many other subjects.

In this chapter of Tia IRMA's soap opera, she explains to us (in a funny way as always) the basic information about the development of a rectal microbicides.

Tia IRMA sees herself as an activist (and her nephew as a pasivist) and gives us a simple example of why we should advocate for a rectal microbicide. You see,  her neighbor Betty (a transgender woman) always depends on her lover (Tia IRMA calls him a dog) since he doesn't always use condoms with Betty. With a rectal microbicide, Betty can take care of herself to prevent HIV infection.

Tia Irma can't wait for a rectal microbicide to be developed and try it, she wants to have the security and happiness when se gets wild on the back…

Besos Negros from Tia IRMA!

[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.]

IRMA in Thailand to Prep for MTN 017

IRMA, the Microbicide Trials Network (MTN), AVAC, and local partners participated in two community consultations in Thailand last week on the upcoming Phase II rectal microbicide trial called MTN 17.   

Community stakeholders in Chiang Mai and Bangkok were provided updates on the field and were asked to provide feedback to the MTN about the draft MTN 017 protocol. In October, a similar consultation was held in Cape Town. Pittsburgh  held another one of these sessions recently, and more community input sessions are planned for Boston and Lima as well.

Check out some pictures of the consults...

More pictures of Chiang Mai consult on MTN 017 here.

More pictures of Bangkok consult on MTN 017 here.

[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.]

IRMA-ALC Promotes Rectal Microbicides in Lima with Humor and Tia Irma

Report from IRMA-ALC - our South American chapter. Don't you just love Tia Irma??? Check out the cute video below...

The Sexual Diversity Festival took place on Miraflores, a district of Lima on  Saturday, Cctober 8th. Epicentro was one of the hosting organizations

IRMA ALC participated with Epicentro in our stand.. We had a roulette wheel with sexual health questions and categories, and one of the categories was "Pregúntale a la tia Irma" or ask aunt Irma… And basically it was 5 simple questions about rectal microbicides to better understand what people know about them.

Also we had the video promoting Tia Irma (the idea is to promote IRMA as a character), and to inform people about rectal microbicides but in an informal and funny way.





[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.]

Meet Daniel Julio Eduardo Nuñez - A Friendly Rectal Microbicide Advocate

"If we create a circle of people around you that at least know a word or two about rectal microbicides I believe the work is done, because everyone has his own circle, so the knowledge in one way or another will flow." - Daniel Julio Eduardo Nuñez, Lima, Peru

Daniel Nuñez is studying law. While working towards his law degree he began working at Epicentro with his local gay community. It is at Epicentro that Daniel met an IRMA member (Epicentro is the headquarters for IRMA-ALC, IRMA's South American sister) and, anxious to find out more about rectal microbicides, immediately sought more information. He was quickly inspired to spread the word about IRMA and its goals.

Daniel realizes that rectal microbicides are important "because we are humans and not robots, we don't necessarily act following a program and sometimes we do things that don't correspond to safe sexual behavior". Because of this he works to make many prevention options available to everyone.

He urges every IRMA advocate and anyone interested in microbicides or HIV prevention at all to discuss options and knowledge with family and friends. With each person able to talk openly and knowledgeably about AIDS and HIV prevention, Daniel hopes that the topic will become less taboo and more can be done in the fight against AIDS.

In his free time Daniel provides freelance tech support, but he enjoys it so it doesn't feel like work. He also enjoys watching TV programs from the United States such as A Game of Thrones, his current favorite show.

Read about other friendly rectal microbicides advocates. Newly featured advocates include Luis Fernando Galarza, Amy Stapleford Jackson, Maheswar Satpathy, Vanessa Marquez, and Mark Hubbard.

Want to join the best e-mail discussion list on new prevention technologies on the planet? Send a note to IRMA here - rectalmicro@gmail.com - and we will get you signed up.Joining the list makes you an automatic IRMA member too!

[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.]

IRMA's South American Chapter Celebrates Our New Report

by Steve Miralles of IRMA-ALC

Last Friday September 24 the Spanish version of IRMA's latest report - From Promise to Product: Advancing Rectal Microbicide Research and Advocacy - was officially presented in Lima, Peru at Epicentro - a social organization that provides information about sexual and holistic health, as well as cultural activities, to the gay community in Lima. Epicentro is also the home of IRMA-ALC (América Latina y El Caribe.)

In this event we had the participation of doctors, psychologists, persons from trans groups, representatives of PLWHA groups, researchers, activists, IRMA members and general public interested in learning about rectal microbicides and its perspectives in Latin America.

For those wishing to obtain a printed copy of the report in Spanish (De la Promesa al Producto: Avanzando en la Investigación y Promoción de los Microbicidas Rectales) can communicate by mail irma-alc@epicentro.org.pe , or you can download it in Spanish on the IRMA-ALC page of the IRMA website.

Visit IRMA-ALC on Facebook.





Este viernes 24 de septiembre fue presentado en Lima, Perú en Epicentro (un espacio de socialización en Lima, donde se brindaran servicios e información sobre salud sexual y mental, además de fomentar actividades culturales) el informe realizado por IRMA e IRMA-LAC (América Latina y El Caribe), De la Promesa al Producto: Avanzando en la Investigación y Promoción de los Microbicidas Rectales.

En este evento contamos con la participación de médicos, psicólogos, representantes de grupos trans, representantes de grupos de PVVS, investigadores, activistas, representantes de IRMA y público en general, interesados en conocer el panorama en Latinoamérica de microbicidas rectales.

Para quien desee obtener una copia de dicho informe en español puede comunicarse al correo irma-alc@epicentro.org.pe , o si desea, puede obtener el informe en pdf aqui.

IRMA-LAC en Facebook.

Haz un clic and learn, baby, learn

IRMA Steering Committee Member and IRMA-ALC Chair Jerome T. Galea gave the following presentation in Lima the end of November. Click the image to download his excellent slides - in Spanish.


All IRMA members are encouraged to share their presentations with our vast network. Please send yours to Jim Pickett, IRMA Chair.

Find other useful Spanish-language materials on the IRMA-ALC page.

Lima's Epicentro - right in the heart of the gay community

The new Gay Men’s Community Center in Lima, Peru – Epicentro – is proud to announce that it has signed a lease for its own space, right in the heart of Lima’s growing gay community. Formed just this year, the center has moved rapidly to gain formal legal status and begin hosting twice-monthly community events and received start-up funding from the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and Pangaea Global AIDS Foundation. With their own space, they will continue to work towards the full realization of their vision and mission, and begin to provide HIV/STI testing and prevention services severely lacking in the community.

Visit their “pre-web” at www.epicentro.org.pe

VISION

To be a Peruvian community center that is the primary promoter for the development of a healthy and representative gay community within society.

MISSION

To empower gay community through a socialization space in Lima, Peru where sexual and mental health services and information will be provided along with promotion of cultural activities.

Live from Lima

You are cordially invited to participate in IRMA's
first global teleconference of 2008

Successful Implementation
of HIV Prevention Trials in Peru

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Dr. Jorge Sanchez and Dr. Javier Lama will talk about clinical trials, including PrEP studies, taking place in Lima, Peru. The call will last about an hour, including time for questions. A PowerPoint presentation will be made available in advance of the call so that participants may follow along. Check the IRMA website.

Visit www.inmensa.org and www.impactaperu.org for some background.

Call times:

Lima - 9am
Los Angeles - 7am
UTC - 2pm
Cape Town - 4pm
New Delhi - 7:30p

The call is graciously hosted by the AIDS Foundation of Chicago. Please dial the appropriate number from the list below to be connected.

In the US, dial 1-866-206-0240
Participant pin - 783468#

If you don't see your country below, you will need to dial (country code) 646-216-7111.

Participant pin - 783468#

You may also want to try dialing through your computer via Skype.

COUNTRY	TOLL-FREE ACCESS NUMBER	TOLL ACCESS NUMBER
Argentina	08003330545
Australia	1800148117
Austria	0800281670
Belgium	080073414	027897418
Brazil	08008911814
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China (South)	108001201267
Columbia	018009156076
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Denmark	80883553	032714202
Ecuador	1800010602
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Finland	0800114394
France	0800902227	0359814012
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Japan	00531121598
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Mexico	0018008996923
The Netherlands	08000225186	0207948418
New Zealand	0800440702
Norway	80010179
Panama	8002260613
Peru	80053197
Poland	08001114946
Portugal	800812157	0211209506
Russia	81080029943011
Saudi Arabia	8008656023 (PIN 9274 must be entered first, then Moderator or Participant PIN)
Singapore	8001204222
Slovakia	800042096
Slovenia	080080107
South Africa	0800998660
South Korea	00798148006940
Spain	900951479	0917889870
Sweden	020796824	0850520218
Switzerland	0800562431	0225927500
Taiwan	00801137631
Thailand	001800120665263
UK	08000323502	02071539960
Venezuela	08001002883

Participant pin - 783468#