JOHANNESBURG — When scientists celebrated the announcement in July thata vaginal microbicide had finally been found that significantly reducedH.I.V. infections in women, there was still a prosaic — though essential — piece of the puzzle missing: money.
Donors have not committed enough money for even one of the two studiesneeded to confirm a promising South African trial of the microbicideand get it into women’s hands. Only about $58 million of the $100million needed for follow-up research has been pledged, according toUnaids, the United NationsAIDS agency. Experts say shifting global health priorities and tightfinances in the West are making it hard to raise the rest.
Advocates say any delay could be deadly. Most of the 22 million peopleinfected with H.I.V. in sub-Saharan Africa are women, and about amillion women on the continent are infected each year. If subsequentstudies find the gel effective, women could use it to protectthemselves even when men refuse to use condoms.
“We have to keep our eye on the prize,” said Dr. Catherine Hankins,chief scientific adviser to Unaids. “It’s in reach. We have to closethe funding gap and get the gel to women.”
Added by TP 09/07/10
