Bill Gates says protecting against HIV/AIDS can't be left to men

Aug 14 2006

Microsoft founder Bill Gates says all the money in the world will not conquer HIV/AIDS unless more progress is made in preventing new infections. Gates says women and other high-risk groups must be given the ability to protect themselves.

The World Health Organization estimates that half of the 39 million people infected with the human immunodeficiency virus today are women, and HIV is mostly transmitted through sexual intercourse between a man and a woman.

Sub-Saharan Africa has 64 percent of all HIV patients and more women are infected than men, while most of children who are infected contracted the virus from their mothers as newborns.

There is no cure for HIV and no vaccine against it.

Bill and Melinda Gates, who have pledged $500 million to the Global Fund for AIDS were speaking on the opening day of the International AIDS Conference, in Toronto, Canada.

Bill Gates says despite growing access to antiretroviral drugs in countries hard-hit by HIV/AIDS, between four and five million people worldwide will become infected in the next year and he believes unless a dramatic breakthrough in prevention is achieved, it will be impossible to deal with those needing treatment.

A microbicide cream, gel or a pill that women can use to protect themselves from the AIDS virus is key to stopping the AIDS pandemic, says Bill Gates.

The Microsoft founder wants to see research into microbicides and oral drugs that would prevent acquisition of HIV, accelerated, and says such measures are particularly important because they would benefit many women who are currently relying on men to agree to abstinence or condom use.

Gates says that clearly does not work and no woman should need her partner's permission to save her own life.

At present 16 potential microbicides are being tested on people, and five are in the advanced study phase; they range from gels based on carrageenan, taken from sea algae and already used widely in foods and toiletries, to HIV drugs put into a gel or cream that could be applied vaginally.

Researchers also say that a drug already used in HIV drug cocktails could keep healthy people from getting HIV.

Melinda Gates stressed the need to use and make more widely available the tools known to stop the spread of the virus, pointing out that fewer than one in five people who are at high risk for HIV have access to condoms, clean needles, education and testing,and she says, that must change.

Melinda Gates says they believe from their experience of HIV that more power must be given to women in order to have an impact on the epidemic.

Melinda Gates said the ABC approach, which stands for Abstinence, Be faithful and use Condoms, does not always work and is often not an option for poor women and girls.

She says being faithful will not protect a woman whose partner is not faithful and using condoms is a decision that depends on a man.

The Gates along with world experts are calling on all governments to join the battle against HIV/AIDS around the world and make the AIDS epidemic a high budgetary priority.

They say the amount of money required for universal treatment and prevention far exceeds the amount that any individual government or any foundation, could possibly provide.

An estimated 24,000 delegates and 3,000 journalists from around the world have met at the conference which aims to ensure drugs are available to those who need them around the world, regardless of ability to pay.

The six-day conference will deal with a wide range of issues - from scientific research to caring for those with HIV/AIDS to preventing the spread of the virus, which has killed 25 million people in the last 25 years and infected about 40 million worldwide.