With 2011 on the horizon, USAID looks at back at its accomplishments in 2010. Among them:
- Supported the game-changing CAPRISA study, which in July provided the first ever proof of concept that a vaginal microbicide could safely and effectively reduce the risk of heterosexual transmission of HIV from men to vulnerable women. Science Magazine recently named the CAPRISA study one of the top ten breakthroughs of 2010.
- Piloted a groundbreaking mobile banking technology to increase Haitians’ access to much-needed financial resources following January’s devastating earthquake.
- Provided shelter, food and medical supplies for the more than 20 million people affected by the floods in Pakistan this summer.
- Assumed leadership of Feed the Future, the U.S. government’s signature food security initiative, in December. USAID quickly established the Bureau for Food Security committed to addressing chronic hunger.
- Announced the first recipients of Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) funds that will, among other outcomes, improve rural solar access and produce affordable, fuel-cell powered bicycles. The DIV promotes innovative and scalable solutions to core development challenges.
- Launched a country-based strategic planning approach, with 20 Country Development Cooperation Strategies (CDCS) already underway. The CDCS will help the agency make evidenced-based decisions, prioritize investments, and hold itself accountable for results.
For more about USAID, please visit www.usaid.gov.
Congratulations. Looks like you have accomplished a lot during the last year. I’ll be reading up on the CAPRISA study, it sounds promising. Are there any plans for when USAID will start a proper awareness campaign for this? Or it is still in the research phases?
Best of luck for the new year,
Sam
Hi Sam,
My name is Daliha and I work on the Microbicides Team at USAID. First I want to say thank you for the congrats. We, at USAID, believe it is very critical for women to have a safe and effective product that they can use to protect themselves against HIV, and we will continue to support this research. In regards to your question, you are correct, that the vaginal microbicide tested in the CAPRISA study, 1% Tenofovir gel, is still in the research phase. To meet the strict requirements of regulatory agencies in the US (the FDA) and other countries, we are planning to do more research on the gel to confirm its safety and ability to prevent HIV transmission in women. We expect this to take an additional 2-3 years. Simultaneously, we are beginning to plan the extensive work needed to introduce this new product, including the awareness campaign you mentioned. Once we have a product that is confirmed to be safe and effective and is approved for introduction, we will work to ensure that the gel reaches the hands of women and girls around the world who need it most and as soon as possible.
I hope that answers your questions. Please let us know if you have anymore.
~Daliha