International Women's Day 2010

Statement from Dr. Zeda Rosenberg, CEO, International Partnership for Microbicides

SILVER SPRING, Md. (March 8, 2010) — For the past century, International Women's Day has offered a yearly opportunity to recognize the tireless efforts of millions who have steadily chipped away at the barriers of inequity, and brought new rights and opportunities to women the world over. Each year this observance is also a reminder of the challenges that remain. Today we are reminded that women's equality can mean the difference between life and death.

Far too many women are powerless against the rising threat of HIV infection, especially in sub-Saharan Africa — where women and girls represent almost 60 percent of new infections. Just months ago, a World Health Organization report confirmed that AIDS is now the number one cause of death and disease among women of reproductive age in the world, with women in developing countries bearing the brunt of the epidemic.

The global economic downturn has only worsened this situation. National budgets are being cut as the epidemic unravels previous public health gains. Almost all improvements in life expectancy in Africa over the past 15 years have been reversed by the epidemic.

Sadly, the spread of the epidemic continues to outpace the world's response to it. For every two people placed on antiretroviral therapy, five more individuals become infected with HIV, and current prevention options have not adequately reduced the rate of new infections.

Since the last International Women's Day, there has been an encouraging new emphasis on women's health that can help speed the development of new HIV-prevention tools women can use to protect themselves. The global health field increasingly recognizes that improving women's health makes families, communities and countries healthier as well. Current HIV prevention strategies such as condoms, although effective when they can be used, are not practical for women who cannot persuade their husbands or partners to use them, who want children or who are at risk for violence. Female-initiated HIV-prevention options would give women greater control over their own health as part of the broader toolkit of existing methods.

Microbicides — biomedical products currently being developed to reduce the risk of HIV infection during sex — are one of the most promising options. Although results from microbicide trials of early generation products have been disappointing, IPM and others have taken a hopeful new approach by developing products based on the same powerful antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) that are being used to treat HIV/AIDS and prevent mother-to-child transmission.

ARV-based products that women could use themselves, including next-generation microbicides, could revolutionize women's ability to prevent HIV infection through the development of a variety of longer-lasting, easy-to-use formulations, such as monthly vaginal rings, and once-daily gels and films. These products are being developed in close consultation with African researchers and hundreds of women volunteers to ensure that the final products are ones that women want and will use. Women may be at greater risk of HIV, but they are not helpless. Women simply need the right tools so they can protect their own health and their family's health. ARV-based prevention products offer great reason for optimism that this will one day be possible.

Looking back at the great achievements in women's rights over the past century, none of them would have been possible without commitment, persistence and innovation. Facing the growing challenge of HIV/AIDS requires more of the same. Today is an opportunity to focus on giving women the right to safe and healthy lives.

About IPM: IPM is a nonprofit organization established in 2002 to prevent HIV transmission by accelerating the development and availability of safe and effective vaginal microbicides in developing countries. IPM has offices in the United States, Belgium and South Africa.

Contacts: Larry Miller, lmiller@ipmglobal.org, +1 301 608 4267 
Holly Seltzer, hseltzer@ipmglobal.org, +1 301 608 4277