The Population Council announced on Thursday that Kiara Health, based in Johannesburg, will commence the production of silicone vaginal rings designed to protect against HIV. AIDS experts believe this initiative could lead to increased affordability and accessibility of these preventive devices.
The nonprofit council, which holds the rights to the rings currently manufactured by a Swedish company, anticipates the production of approximately 1 million rings annually in the coming years. These rings release a drug, dapivirine, in controlled doses over a month, effectively reducing the risk of HIV infection. Authorized by nearly a dozen countries and endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO), the silicone rings are deemed a crucial tool in the fight against HIV.
Currently, around 500,000 rings are available to women in Africa at no cost, courtesy of donors. Ben Phillips, a spokesperson for the U.N. AIDS agency, highlighted the advantage of these rings, emphasizing that they provide women with the autonomy to use them discreetly and without external consent.
“For women whose partners won’t use a condom or allow them to take oral (preventive HIV) medicines, this gives them another option,” Phillips stated.
Given that HIV remains the leading cause of death among women of reproductive age in Africa, and 60% of new infections occur in women, the introduction of these rings holds significant promise. The slow-release dapivirine rings cost between $12 to $16 currently, with expectations of a price reduction once mass-produced in Africa. Developers are also working on an extended three-month version to further decrease annual costs.
The WHO has recommended the use of the ring as an additional preventive tool for women at “substantial risk of HIV.” Regulatory approvals have been granted by authorities in more than a dozen African countries, including South Africa, Botswana, Malawi, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. WHO’s approval is based on advanced studies indicating a roughly one-third reduction in women’s chances of contracting HIV, while other research suggests a potential drop of over 50%.
Last year, activists took the stage during a major AIDS meeting, urging donors to support the provision of these silicone rings for African women.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
