Health Canada Official to join IPM, a global partnership developing microbicides to protect women against HIV

Government Expert seconded to Global Public-Private Partnership

SILVER SPRING, MD and OTTAWA – Health Canada and the International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM) today announced secondment of a government official to advance a public-private health partnership. Under the terms of the agreement, Martin Méthot, Director of the International Health Division, Health Policy and Communications Branch at Health Canada, will leave his post to spend three years as director for policy and external affairs for IPM.

Méthot, brings his extensive expertise in global health and HIV/AIDS to IPM’s global effort to develop safe and effective topical microbicides and make them available to all who need them. An effective anti-HIV cream, gel, or ointment could save 2 million lives a year, and have a major impact in developing countries where women have limited access to traditional prevention methods such as condoms or abstinence.

"Martin Méthot stood out in the international field as the one candidate with the experience, credibility, and political skills to bring microbicides to the forefront of the international agenda,” said Dr. Zeda Rosenberg, CEO of IPM. “We are grateful to Health Canada for making him available for this assignment, and to Martin for accepting it.”

“I look forward to using my experience, skills and networks to build international support to speed the development of this critically needed new tool to prevent HIV/AIDS,” Méthot said. “There has been a growing wave of public enthusiasm for microbicides, and I believe we can leverage it into real action.”

Méthot has spent more than a decade championing the Canadian government’s response to the domestic and global AIDS epidemic, representing Canada at International AIDS Conferences and coordinating and participating in Canada’s delegations to key international bodies such as the World Health Organisation, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the UN General Assembly Special Sessions on HIV/AIDS. Prior to becoming Director of the International Health Division, Méthot took part in the development of the health and HIV/AIDS action plans for the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

This agreement marks the culmination of a long period of cooperation between IPM and national governments. IPM counts five governments among its principal donors. To date, the IPM has raised more than US$100 million in funding commitments from five European countries – the United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, Denmark, and the Netherlands – as well as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, UNFPA and the World Bank.

"This is fabulous news for IPM and for microbicides in general,” said Ralf Jürgens, Executive Director of the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network. “Martin is a visionary, a man who when faced with a seemingly insurmountable barrier will not stop until he has found a way to make things possible. He is incredibly committed to the global fight against HIV/AIDS, and firmly believes in a comprehensive approach, based on human rights, that includes new prevention technologies. We will miss him a lot here in Canada, but look forward to continuing to work with him. I have no doubt he will make a big difference."


About IPM

The International Partnership for Microbicides was established in 2002 to accelerate the discovery, development and accessibility of microbicides to prevent transmission of HIV. The organization's goal is to improve the efficiency of all efforts to deliver a safe and effective microbicide as soon as possible. Health Canada is the federal department responsible for helping the people of Canada maintain and improve their health. Health Canada is committed to improving the lives of all of Canada's people and to making this country's population among the healthiest in the world as measured by longevity, lifestyle and effective use of the public health care system.