Maravi

(LUSAKATIMES) Government defends the microbicide gel clinical trials

Government defends the microbicide gel clinical trials
Wednesday, February 24, 2010, 18:21

Government has defended the microbicide gel clinical trials in which 46 women out of 1,332 volunteers in Mazabuka District contracted HIV due to failed efficacy of the gel pro-2000, meant to prevent the contraction of the virus that cause AIDS.

Health minister Kapembwa Simbao told Parliament in a ministerial statement today that government believes that research as such the microbicide gel clinical trials is important because it provides data for policy implementation.

Mr Simbao says the results of the Microbicide Development Programme, Mazabuka trials were disappointing, but that government recognizes that this large trial was done with high scientific and ethical standards.

He says the researchers also engaged the stakeholders and the community in which the trial was conducted. Mr Simbao says the failure of the clinical trials should not bring to an end microbicide research, but should continue as well as research to find other means of protecting women.

And Mr Simbao says the issue of compensation for the women infected with HIV does not arise because all the volunteers knew that they were taking a risk trial and that it is for this reason that they were made to sign the consent agreement.

He says the only thing that is being done is to make follow ups so that those that contracted HIV can be assisted to cope with their new condition.

QFM

Labels: HIV/AIDS, KAPEMBWA SIMBAO

posted by MrK @ 6:37 PM