New methods to check HIV introduced

TORONTO: As the 16th international AIDS conference kicked off, it saw the world’s most rich and famous turning up to associate themselves with the anti-AIDS campaign. The former U.S. president, Bill Clinton, Microsoft chief, Bill Gates, Hollywood star Richard Gere were present among other celebrities.

New technologies for preventing the transmission of HIV were the top agenda for the conference. A report, entitled "New Approaches to HIV Prevention: Accelerating Research and Ensuring Future Access," was released by the Global HIV Prevention Working Group.

Six new HIV prevention methods including male circumcision and microbicides were proclaimed in the report. South African researcher Prof Gita Ramjee announced that scientists would know by the end of next year whether they had an effective microbicide against the dreaded disease.

The report depicts the progress that research has made in six promising new methods of HIV transmission prevention: male circumcision, cervical barriers such as diaphragms, daily administration of antiretroviral drugs currently used for HIV treatment, suppression of herpes which increases HIV risk up to three times, topical microbicides and HIV vaccines. The new techniques could not help if the access to these methods remains elusive for those who need it most warned the authors of the report.

Mr. Clinton said “The urgent need to stem the tide of new infections is being undermined by the fact that few people know about their HIV status and are unwittingly spreading the disease, I don't see how we are going to catch up unless people are at least aware that they could be giving the virus to other people.”

Ms. Gates stressed on the need for empowering women to protect themselves. He stated that he is yet to visit a country where injected drug use, or men having sex with men or commercial sex workers, is easily discussed

More than 40 million people worldwide today are living with the virus that can lead to AIDS. Experts warned that although promising tests for new HIV prevention approaches are nearly complete, yet many financial and ethical obstacles could delay or even derail completion of critical trials.