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. -------------------

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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Introducing the GLAM Toolkit: Advocacy to improve lubricant access in Africa

Today, IRMA,  in collaboration with amfAR and AVAC, is delighted to officially release Version 1.0 of The GLAM Toolkit: Advocacy to improve access to safe, condom-compatible lubricant in Africa.

The Toolkit provides background on the status of lubricant (lube) access in Africa and 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.

It is also available on the IRMA blog here (where you can also learn more about Project ARM.)

And can be downloaded here as well.

Condom- compatible lube is associated with a decreased risk of condoms breaking or slipping. Simply put, condoms work better with condom-compatible lube, especially during anal intercourse. That said, men, women and transgender individuals - whether they have anal interourse, vaginal intercourse, or both, need and want safe, condom-compatible lube.

However, throughout the world, and particularly in Africa, condom-compatible lubricant is inaccessible for most people. The GLAM Toolkit (Version 1.0) is designed to encourage advocates to engage Ministries of Health, UN agencies, funders, non-governmental organizations, and other partners to make the provision and distribution of safe, condom-compatible lubricant a priority by positioning lubricant as an absolute necessity, along with male and female condoms.

The Toolkit contains six sections including:

·         Background and introduction
·         Lubricant—Basic Facts on Access and Safety
·         Review of African National Strategic Plans on Inclusion of Lubricant
·         Lube Procurement National Case Studies
·         Findings from Survey on Lube Distribution and Access
·         Advocacy Steps for Improving Access to Lubricant

As the Toolkit is a “living” document, it will be updated regularly by IRMA and partners to keep it timely and relevant. Hence, this Version 1.0 will be replaced by updated versions as the work progresses with new information to report. Please share your successes.

And remember, when you hear anyone say the word "condoms" - we say AND LUBE!

PS - While The GLAM Toolkit is focused on Africa and is embedded in our Project ARM initiative, we recognize that lube access is a serious issue all over the world. The ideas in the Toolkit can and should be adapted for other contexts - and we hope you will do that in yours. We also hope to secure resources to expand our lubricant access work beyond Africa. Stay tuned. And Lube!

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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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Chemical & Engineering News: Studies Raise Questions About Safety Of Personal Lubricants

via Chemical & Engineering News, by Lauren K. Wolf

Although most people will list only K-Y Jelly when asked to recall the names of personal lubricants, hundreds of the products are being used for sex across the globe. These sex aids are designed to make things easier. So it’s a little unsettling that experiments carried out in recent years have indicated that some of the products might be smoothing the way for disease transmission.
 

Used to reduce friction and increase pleasure during intercourse, lubricants are about a $219 million market in the U.S. alone, according to the Chicago-based market research firm SymphonyIRI Group.

But a handful of studies have called into question the safety of these sex aids, although none have shown cut-and-dried proof of risk. Some of the experiments have shown that personal lubricants can damage cells lining both the vagina and rectum, potentially making the body more vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections (STIs). And one epidemiological investigation, published early this year, reported that participants who consistently used personal lubricants for rectal intercourse had a higher prevalence of STIs, such as chlamydia, than inconsistent users (Sex. Transm. Dis., DOI: 10.1097/olq.0b013e318235502b).

Complicating matters is that these same lubricants are being eyed as components of low-cost microbicide gels that could protect people from HIV. The thinking is that because so many people already use the sex aids, they will go right on using them for pleasure as well as protection once a virus-killing drug is added. But the new safety concerns about lubricants have made researchers consider reformulating the gels.

Still, most of the recent lab-based safety studies conducted on personal lubricants fall short of indicting the products. “We have signals that are concerning,” says Jim Pickett, chair of the International Rectal Microbicide Advocates (IRMA) group, a global network pushing for safe and effective STI-preventing products. “But we don’t know what they mean yet. Just because a lubricant causes cell damage in the lab, we don’t know whether that has anything to do with disease transmission in humans in the real world.”

In response, Johnson & Johnson, which dominates the personal lubricant market with its K-Y brand products, says, “We continually review new research as it evolves. K-Y brand products have provided effective lubrication and moisturization for millions of couples and are safe when used as directed.”

Right now, the Food & Drug Administration doesn’t typically require testing of personal lubricants in humans. The agency classifies them as medical devices, so the sex aids have to be tested on animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs. Rectal use of lubricants is viewed by the agency as an “off-label” application—use at your own risk.

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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Challenges for HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis among Men Who Have Sex with Men in the United States

via PLoS Medicine, by Gordon Mansergh, Beryl A. Koblin, Patrick S. Sullivan

Summary Points:

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with anti-retroviral (ARV) medications is partially efficacious for preventing HIV infection among men who have sex with men (MSM) and heterosexuals.

As PrEP becomes available and prescribed for use among MSM a better understanding of willingness to use PrEP and avoidance of condom use are needed so that behavioral programs and counseling may be enhanced for maximum benefit.

Targeted messaging will be needed about ARV prophylaxis for various at risk populations, but the general message should be that condoms continue to be the most effective way to prevent HIV transmission through sex and that PrEP is an additional biomedical intervention.

As new effective biomedical intervention methods, such as PrEP, become available language about “protected” and “unprotected” sex, which used to exclusively mean condom use, will need to adapt.

Read the full article 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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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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[Project ARM] GLAM Lube Distribution Survey

via Survey Monkey, for [Project ARM] GLAM Lube Distribution Survey

Thank you for taking a few minutes to complete this survey on lubricant distribution in your country.

International Rectal Microbicide Advocates (IRMA) has launched a special initiative called "Project ARM - Africa for Rectal Microbicides" to ensure rectal microbicide research and advocacy are on the African map.

The top priority of Project ARM is lube access for people who engage in anal intercourse.

Condoms and safe, condom-compatible lubricant should be used during anal intercourse to provide protection against HIV and other STDs. Safe, condom-compatible lubricants are also used by many women who desire extra lubrication during vaginal intercourse. Condoms used without proper lubricant can break.

With partners amfAR and AVAC, Project ARM has developed the GLAM campaign (Global Lube Access Mobilisation) in an effort to improve access to safe, condom-compatible lubes for individuals in Africa and other countries where lube access is poor.

Your answers to these questions will inform a "tool kit" that is being developed to support lube access advocacy and implementation.

Access the survey 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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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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Lubes a Key Priority in Africa

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

via Citizen News Service, by Chief K Masimba Biriwasha

Condom-compatible lubes are a rarity in Africa forcing transgender women, gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM) and heterosexual populations that engage in anal sex to utilize alternative methods that potentially exposes them to a range of sexually transmitted infections including HIV, the virus which causes AIDS. Following a meeting of Africa for Rectal Microbicides (Project ARM) held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in December 2011, participants decided to create the Global Lube Access Mobilization (GLAM) initiative to support increased access and availability of condom-compatible lubes throughout the world, beginning with a focus on Africa, employing the tagline "And Lube!"

This tag-line "And Lube!" reminds people to distribute condoms 'and [condom compatible] lube' to make anal sex safer and more comfortable. At the two-day meet, held at the International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA), initiated by the International Rectal Microbicide Advocates (IRMA) in partnership with AVAC - Global Advocacy for HIV Prevention, participants acknowledge lubricants, or "lube" that can be used with condoms are a key priority for safer anal sex.

"There is a need for lube which is condom safe in many parts of Africa - when you're talking about HIV prevention among men who have sex with men (MSM), it's about condoms and lube," said Kent Klindera, Director, MSM Initiative at amfAR, in an exclusive interview with Citizen News Service.

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: The Latest on Rectal Microbicides

via San Francisco AIDS Foundation

What if a lube could help prevent HIV infection during sex? Microbicide researchers and advocates are hoping to answer that question and create a new HIV prevention tool—and a sexy one at that, if rectal microbicides advocate Jim Pickett has his way.

A microbicide is a chemical agent (such as a drug) that could be formulated as a gel, lubricant, douche, or enema and applied vaginally or rectally to reduce the risk of HIV infection during sex. One benefit of using a microbicide is that it puts the HIV-fighting drug exactly where the virus is entering the body during sex. Another is that it would offer an unobtrusive and even pleasure-enhancing HIV prevention option for people who are unable or unwilling to consistently use condoms, as well as for mixed-HIV-status couples trying to have a child.

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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...Lubes in the Spotlight 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.]

via Citizen News Service, by Bobby Ramakant

Most men, women and transgender people who practice anal sex use some kind of a lubricant (lube) ranging from expensive and commercially marketed branded lubes to saliva or oil. 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. Marc-Andre LeBlanc, Secretary of International Rectal Microbicides Advocacy (IRMA) who is also a member of Lube Safety Working Group, said to CNS before XIX International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2012) opened in Washington DC: "Many men, women and transgender people use lubricants (lubes) during sexual intercourse. Yet we know very little about their safety when used during anal intercourse."

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 Toon - A Friendly Rectal Microbicide Advocate

Check out this interesting mini-bio of Wipas Wimonsate (Toon), the latest in IRMA's "Meet a Friendly Rectal Microbicide Advocate" series on the IRMA website here.  Toon is one of the six new bios just posted the other day, 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.


Wipas Wimonsate (Toon)
Bangkok, Thailand

"As nature is so diversified, why aren't HIV prevention technologies as well? People have different preferences, needs, and capabilities. If we are to be successful in HIV prevention, we have to understand and accept the nature of people, and that is diversity."

Toon is a medical and social researcher and community associate working with the Silom Community Clinic in Bangkok. The Silom Clinic will be a site for the Phase II rectal microbicide expanded safety and acceptability trial called MTN-017, which will be investigating a reduced-glycerin formulation of tenofovir gel applied rectally compared with oral Truvada among HIV-negative gay men, other men who have sex with men (MSM), and transgender women. His site is expected to begin enrolling volunteers in early 2013.

Outside of work, he enjoys playing badminton, reading, and watching television.

He first got involved with IRMA when he was asked to translate some materials on lubricant safety. "Safety of lubricants for rectal use: A fact sheet for HIV educators and advocates" is available in Thai thanks to Toon, as is the document Safety of lubricants for rectal use: "Questions and Answers for HIV educators and advocates."

Toon believes that rectal microbicides provide a protective option for those who choose not to utilize a condom. He also recognizes that rectal microbicides offer a different manner in which to encourage sexual health, and that the endeavor to develop safe, effective, acceptable and accessibile rectal microbicides will be a major contribution to humankind.

Toon has worked closely on the soon-to-be-released IRMA video ("The Rectal Revolution is Here: An Introduction to Rectal Microbicide Clinical Trials") being developed in partnership with the Microbicide Trials Network and Population Council. He is part of the team's Video Advisory Committee and has provided invaluable feedback on content, messaging and language. Translating from English into Thai is rather complicated, and Toon's guidance has been critical to ensure the team "gets it right." He also facilitated the video segments that were recorded in Thailand, and worked closely on the Thai focus groups which were designed and implemented to test the "rough cut" of the video.

Toon was greatly influenced by Dr. Frits van Griensven, the pioneer of HIV studies among Thai gay men, other MSM and transgender individuals. He is very excited for the upcoming studies in Thailand, and is eager to work towards zero new HIV infections rate gay men, other MSM and transgender individuals, locally and internationally.

Thank you, Toon, 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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Meet Rig Rush - A Friendly Rectal Microbicide Advocate

Check out this interesting mini-bio of Rig Rush, the latest in IRMA's "Meet a Friendly Rectal Microbicide Advocate" series on the IRMA website here.  Rig is one of the six new bios just posted the other day, 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.


Rig Rush
Los Angeles, California

"By promoting affirming messages that reinforce normalizing overall sexual health and awareness, you can inspire individuals who engage in anal sex to take ownership and accountability of their own behaviors; making confident and informed decisions. In my fierce opinion, that is the basis for HIV and STD prevention."

Originally from Pittsburgh, Rig just moved across country to Los Angeles to become the new Community Mobilization Coordinator at the Black AIDS Institute. He has several interests including going to movies, amusement parks, and taking extremely long walks. He loves meeting different types of people and creating pleasant memories. He also happens to be one of the stars of the soon-to-be-released IRMA video called "The Rectal Revolution is Here: An Introduction to Rectal Microbicide Clinical Trials" being produced in collaboration with the Microbicide Trials Network and Population Council. In the video, Rig relates his experiences as a participant in a rectal microbicide trial with wit, warmth, and passion.

He believes that STD information, brochures and presentations focus on "drips, itches and stenches". Based on the available information, Rig felt he was the only individual who passionately enjoyed receptive anal sex. He also found the small amounts of health-related information regarding anal health/enjoyment highly offensive. Given his frustration, Rig was overjoyed when he heard about the research study that "celebrated the bottom perspective" - the study he talks about in the video.

He acknowledges that "men love sex, and they love unprotected sex, but most men do not think about risk when the moment arises." Condoms protect only when used consistently and correctly. However the concept of rectal microbicides "truly takes prevention and puts it where the rubber meets the road." He finds microbicides in general (both rectal and vaginal) to be the best modern step to fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic that isn't gay specific. Rectal microbicides have the potential to have a vast and appealing impact on the community collectively.

Rig's advice for IRMA is to remain consistent and committed to promoting awareness and education about rectal microbicides and health. He feels that "the information one obtains from IRMA is very beneficial for the collective gay community."

He 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.

He works to motivate, inspire and unite gay black men and other men who have sex with men around a variety of issues, and continues to support and celebrate black gay men regardless of their HIV status. He strives to help others live productive, informed and authentic lives filled with healthy connections and relationships.

Rig's mother has had the deepest impact on his life. She is his symbol of strength, compassion and authenticity, which shaped Rig into the man he is today. His mother's fearless, positive and audacious appreciation for life ignited a fire that continuously resonates.

Thank you Rig 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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Married 'Heterosexual' Kenyan Men Who Have Sex With Other Men Form Support Group

via Identity Kenya

A new group of otherwise heterosexual men who engage in sexual activity with other men has been formed to create awareness on HIV and also fight blackmail that most of their members have fallen prey to.

The group, Married Men Initiative (MMI), so far, boasts of fifty to sixty married men who meet regularly in social places to talk and interact.

‘Over 90% of the members are married to women; some have children from their marriages and the other 10% consists of men with girlfriends or are live-in marriages,’ said Samuel Kabuga*, one of the members to Identity Kenya.

Most of the members are deeply closeted out of fear of being outed and to avoid blackmailing by those who take advantage of their marital status. Apart from the risk of contracting HIV through unprotected anal sex, most married men face also face extortion from some of their boyfriends.

‘One of the main reasons we formed the group was to offer support and aid to those members who had fallen prey to blackmailers. These are people, who after sex, demand for money and knowing that we are married or in the closet, take advantage of that,’ said Otieno*, a member said.

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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France's The Warning on Biomedical Prevention

via The Warning (France)

In France, the controversy between HIV organizations about PrEP appear in the media and social networks, from moral considerations disguised in ethical objections to classic behavioral speculations (as there was on the TasP or PEP) [4].

So, to clarify and defuse the situation, it should be noted some points :

The biomedical prevention is a revolution in terms of sexual and mental health for serodifferent couples (especially those who want to have children) and poz sex workers (under pressure from their customers to have condomless sex), removing the risk and visceral fear of contamination. It is essential for fighting the demonization of people living with HIV/Aids (PLWHA) in our poz-phobic society : they are no longer considered as « viral bombs ».

 The biomedical prevention is a need expressed by all PLWHAs and peoples concerned by HIV [5].

 The biomedical prevention is an additional argument for the battle for universal access to treatment in poor countries and in prisons.

 The biomedical prevention is an important argument against the criminalization of HIV transmission, which beyond our respective countries, is increasing in Africa (since women are the first victims).

 The biomedical prevention must be done within the strict framework of informed consent and needs (therapeutic, psychological, sexual and social) of the concerned person(s). In no circumstances it may force the initiation of treatment to anyone, even if early treatment appears to have benefits, and although some mathematical models abound for the establishment of a general strategy of Test&Treat. Warning has long been positioned on the subject [6].

These reasons alone are sufficient to promote biomedical prevention [7] in a responsible manner and combined [8] to other tools in the fight against AIDS : condoms, HIV testing [9], Counseling, and struggles against serophobia and criminalization of sexual transmission of 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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Ethiopia to Distribute Condoms to High Risk Populations

via msmgf.org, by AHN

ADDIS ABABA, 12 June 2012 (PlusNews) - More than 100 million condoms will be distributed annually to sex workers, men who have sex with men and other groups vulnerable to HIV as part of a new five-year programme to be run by the Ethiopian government and the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

Dubbed MULU, the Amharic word for comprehensive, the US$70 million programme - implemented by the NGOs Population Services International and World Learning - will also target day labourers in the booming construction industry, migrant workers and their partners.

"Over the five-year life of MULU prevention, 100 million free condoms per year will be distributed, 2 million counselling and testing sessions will be conducted, and half a million sexually transmitted infection cases will be treated," said Donald Booth, US Ambassador to Ethiopia, launching the programme on 31 May 2012 in the capital, Addis Ababa.

"This programme is going to focus on… getting services for people who practice high-risk behaviours such as having multiple sex partners concurrently," Renee DeMarco, a senior technical advisor to HIV/AIDS Prevention and Social Services at the US Agency for International Development (USAID)-Ethiopia, told IRIN/PlusNews.

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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High HIV Prevalence Among Sex Workers In Swaziland

via observer.org.sz, by Winile Mavuso

UNADJUSTED HIV prevalence among sex workers stands at 70.3%.

This is contained in the Swaziland HIV Bio-Behavioral Surveillance Study and Qualitative Study among Most At-Risk Populations (MARPS) conducted by the Population Service International (PSI) in conjunction with the John Hopkins University based in the United States.

The findings of the study were released by Director of Health Services, Dr. Simon Zwane at Mountain Inn yesterday.

It was observed that around the world, men who have sex with men (MSM) and female sex workers have a higher risk of HIV infection than the general population. Until now, little had been known about HIV prevalence or risk factors among these population groups in the country, hence the study was commissioned.

The study shows that HIV prevalence increased with age, with older sex workers having higher rates of HIV.

However, even the youngest group of sex workers had an HIV prevalence rate of 44%. Sex workers were more likely to be HIV infected if they were older, had lower education, married, or were ever pregnant.
Just 4% of sex workers had active syphilis.

Despite the high HIV prevalence among this group, some clients are still daring and sleep with sex workers without a condom.

Out of the 325 sex workers who participated in the study only 23.5% reported always using condoms with all partners in the past month.

More than half (55.3%) reported condom breakage/slippage in the past month. About 74% reported always using condoms with new clients in the past month.

However, condoms were used less often with regular clients and non-commercial partners; 48.2% reported always using a condom in the past month with regular clients and 33.5% reported always using a condom in the past month with non-commercial partners. 

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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Increase in HIV Prevalence Causes Concern in Uganda

via PlusNews Global

Uganda's HIV/AIDS prevalence rate has risen from 6.4 percent to 6.7 percent, according to a recently released national AIDS Indicator Survey.

The population-based HIV serological survey showed that 6.7 percent of adults aged between 15 and 49 were HIV-positive, while at least 500,000 people have been infected with the virus in the past five years.

Uganda's HIV prevalence fell from a high of 18 percent in 1992 to 6.1 percent in 2002; this rate later stabilized and then stagnated at about 6.4 percent in 2004, when the last such survey was conducted.

Some 7.7 percent of women are positive, compared to 5.6 percent of men, according to the 25-page preliminary report launched by Health Minister Christine Ondoa on 15 March in the capital, Kampala. The full report is due for release in June 2012.

Government officials have played down the higher prevalence. "The increase is not much… because of the population growth; there are new people entering into the age bracket of 15 to 19," said Dr Zainab Akol, programme manager for HIV in the Ministry of Health.

However, activists are concerned that the new statistics are the result of gaps in the government's HIV prevention programmes.

"I don't agree that the rise is merely as a result of an age shift - prevention efforts do not match the needs of the population... it is not uncommon to run out of basic [HIV prevention] supplies like condoms," said Milly Katana, long-term activist and one of the inaugural board members of the Global Fund to fight HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

"We are becoming increasingly concerned about risk compensation as a result of failing HIV prevention messages," she added. "People, especially the elites in cities, have a false sense of safety... we did work 10 years ago but it is not enough; behaviour change is not sustainable without regular doses of information."

Despite years of condom promotion, the survey found that just 28.1 percent of women and 31.4 percent of men aged between 15 and 19 used a condom during their last sexual encounter, dropping to 6.7 percent and 12.2 percent respectively among 30- to 39-year-olds.

Read the Rest.



[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.]