Issue 8 – December 2017
Media Coverage
OPTIONS
“HIV prevention pills now available to university students.” Sowetanlive.co.za. 26 Sept 2017.
“One year in: lessons on rolling out an HIV prevention pill in South Africa.” The Conversation.com. 1 Dec 2017.
“Six lessons in helping African women avoid HIV.” The New York Times.com. 15 Dec 2017.
CHARISMA
“Recognising Gender Violence is Key to Ending HIV.” Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation blog. 17 October 2017.
MPii
“Top 10 accomplishments of USAID’s office of HIV/AIDS Research in 2017.” USAID blog. 30 Nov 2017.
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OPTIONS – December 2017
The OPTIONS Consortium objective is to develop a streamlined, adaptable product delivery platform for current and future ARV-based HIV prevention options, with a particular focus on women.
- OPTIONS develops communication strategy for Lesotho’s oral PrEP roll out.
- OPTIONS hosts dapivirine ring modeling stakeholder consultation.
- Operations research underway.
- PrEPWatch re-organized and new resources added.
- Mapping of PrEP trials and implementation projects updated.
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POWER – December 2017
POWER develops cost-effective and scalable models for implementation of ARV-based HIV prevention products for women.
- Cohorts in Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Kisumu enroll more than 200 young women.
- My PrEP decision support tool ready to launch; additional demand creation tools in development.
- POWER team meeting convened.
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EMOTION – December 2017
EMOTION increases uptake and correct and consistent use of ARV-based HIV prevention products by women at high risk of HIV infection using an end-user centered strategy.
- Project VOGUE continues.
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CHARISMA – December 2017
CHARISMA supports efforts to: increase women’s agency to safely use ARV-based HIV prevention, to engage male partners in HIV prevention, and to overcome harmful gender norms and reduce intimate partner violence (IPV).
- Clinic-based intervention continues.
- Community-based intervention completed in September.
- CHARISMA pilot evaluation underway and effectiveness study planned.
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GEMS – December 2017
GEMS informs policies and defines programmatic considerations related to use of ARV-based HIV prevention products and risk of resistance.
- Genital swabs testing begins and assay development is underway.
- Drug resistance testing in Kenya progresses.
- Drug resistance testing in South Africa planned.
- Collaboration in Zimbabwe begins.
- GEMS to offer technical assistance on drug resistance testing.
- Oral PrEP modeling progresses.
Issue 7 – September 2017
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OPTIONS – September 2017
The OPTIONS Consortium objective is to develop a streamlined, adaptable product delivery platform for current and future ARV-based HIV prevention options, with a particular focus on women.
- Plan 4 PrEP Toolkit offers support for oral PrEP introduction.
- OPTIONS and IPM collaborate to make the case for the dapivirine ring.
- Private sector landscape analysis supports country governments with oral PrEP implementation.
- Community dialogues in Zimbabwe aim to understand oral PrEP readiness.
- Regional guide for PrEP communications being developed.
- South Africa expands oral PrEP launch to six more sites.
- Operations research and KAP survey protocols approved.
- New Resources Added to PrEPWatch.
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POWER – September 2017
POWER develops cost-effective and scalable models for implementation of ARV-based HIV prevention products for women.
- My PrEP decision support tool in production with additional demand creation tools in development.
- Final formative report completed.
- Cohorts in Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Kisumu launched.
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EMOTION – September 2017
EMOTION increases uptake and correct and consistent use of ARV-based HIV prevention products by women at high risk of HIV infection using an end-user centered strategy.
- Project VOGUE underway.
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CHARISMA – September 2017
CHARISMA supports efforts to: increase women’s agency to safely use ARV-based HIV prevention, to engage male partners in HIV prevention, and to overcome harmful gender norms and reduce intimate partner violence (IPV).
- Clinic- and community-based interventions continue.
- Intervention evaluations and reporting planned.
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GEMS – September 2017
GEMS informs policies and defines programmatic considerations related to use of ARV-based HIV prevention products and risk of resistance.
- Drug-resistance testing in Kenya progresses.
- GEMS prepares for drug-resistance testing in South Africa and Zimbabwe.
- Genital swabs testing begins and assay development is underway.
- Oral PrEP modeling continues.
Issue 4 – November 2016
Media Coverage
CHARISMA
“Vaginal ring lowers HIV risk without interfering with sexual intercourse.” HCPLive.com. 19 Oct 2016.
“Most women using anti-HIV vaginal ring say sex felt the same.” Poz.com. 19 Oct 2016.
“ASPIRE: Women report use of vaginal ring for HIV prevention has little effect on sex.” Healio.com. 20 Oct 2016.
“Debate this: What do HIV prevention and elections have in common?” TheBody.com. 20 Oct 2016.
“Rings, films or inserts? Researchers need to develop prevention products that make sense in women’s lives.” AIDSMap.com. 21 Oct 2016.
“Zimbabwe: ‘Gender violence adversely affects war on HIV’.” AllAfrica.com. 24 Oct 2016.
“‘Gender violence adversely affects war on HIV’.” Herald.co.zw. 24 Oct 2016.
“Fear of violence from partners curbs vaginal ring use.” HCPLive.com. 25 Oct 2016.
“Latest ASPIRE vaginal ring data speak to women’s experience.” Medscape.com. 26 Oct 2016.
“ASPIRE HIV prevention study reveals several key findings.” ContagionLive.com. 26 Oct 2016.
GEMS
“Dapivirine ring did not confer drug resistance among women who acquired HIV in ASPIRE.” EurekAlert Press Release. 18 Oct 2016.
CHARISMA & GEMS
“Experimental vaginal ring effective for HIV prevention: study.” Audio Story on SABC Radio in South Africa. Aired on 18 Oct 2016.
“HIV resistance rare with preventive ring.” MedPage Today. 19 Oct 2016.
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OPTIONS – November 2016
The OPTIONS Consortium objective is to develop a streamlined, adaptable product delivery platform for current and future ARV-based HIV prevention options, with a particular focus on women.
- Project priorities selected for year two.
- Rollout scenario analyses underway.
- Country partners continue engaging with national TWGs.
- Resources and tools being developed to support PrEP rollout beyond core countries.
- Another resource added to PrEPWatch.
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POWER – November 2016
POWER develops cost-effective and scalable models for implementation of ARV-based HIV prevention products for women.
- Initial results of formative work presented.
- Cohort protocol work continues.
- Oral PrEP decision support tool prototype being developed.
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EMOTION – November 2016
EMOTION increases uptake and correct and consistent use of ARV-based HIV prevention products by women at high risk of HIV infection using an end-user centered strategy.
- Human-centered design research completed.
- Pilot marketing study underway.
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CHARISMA – November 2016
CHARISMA supports efforts to: increase women’s agency to safely use ARV-based HIV prevention, to engage male partners in HIV prevention, and to overcome harmful gender norms and reduce intimate partner violence (IPV).
- Landscape and secondary data analysis report finalized.
- Formative data collection and analyses completed.
- Results disseminated.
- Intervention design plan developed and data collection underway.
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GEMS – November 2016
GEMS informs policies and defines programmatic considerations related to use of ARV-based HIV prevention products and risk of resistance.
- Collaboration in Kenya and South Africa moves forward.
- Oral PrEP modeling continues.
- Study concept sheets approved.
- Cost-effective strategies for HIV drug resistance surveillance continues.
Issue 3 – August 2016
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OPTIONS – August 2016
The OPTIONS Consortium objective is to develop a streamlined, adaptable product delivery platform for current and future ARV-based HIV prevention options, with a particular focus on women.
- LVCT Health plays key role in development of Kenya’s PrEP section within ARV guidelines.
- Value chain situation analysis toolkit available on PrEPWatch.
- PrEP modeling moves forward in Kenya and Zimbabwe.
- New resource submission added to PrEPWatch.
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POWER – August 2016
POWER develops cost-effective and scalable models for implementation of ARV-based HIV prevention products for women.
- Formative work begins at three sites.
- Cohort protocol developed.
- POWER plans a PrEP decision support tool.
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EMOTION – August 2016
EMOTION increases uptake and correct and consistent use of ARV-based HIV prevention products by women at high risk of HIV infection using an end-user centered strategy.
- EMOTION completes human-centered design research.
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CHARISMA – August 2016
CHARISMA supports efforts to: increase women’s agency to safely use ARV-based HIV prevention, to engage male partners in HIV prevention, and to overcome harmful gender norms and reduce intimate partner violence (IPV).
- Landscape and secondary data analysis completed.
- Formative data collection nearly finished.
- Intervention planning underway.
- Scientific Advisory Group meeting convened.
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GEMS – August 2016
GEMS informs policies and defines programmatic considerations related to use of ARV-based HIV prevention products and risk of resistance.
- Specimen and data collection makes progress.
- Collaboration underway with other projects.
- Country work continues.
- Lab team moves forward.
Issue 2 – May 2016
Media Coverage
OPTIONS
“Six Advocates for PrEP Speak Out.” UNAIDS Community Advocacy Update. 18 Feb 2016.
“Opinion: A Possible Game-Changer in HIV Prevention.” Eyewitness News. Mar 2016.
“Why Africa needs PrEP: A two-in-one pill to prevent HIV infection.” Mail & Guardian Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism. 10 Mar 2016.
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OPTIONS – May 2016
The OPTIONS Consortium objective is to develop a streamlined, adaptable product delivery platform for current and future ARV-based HIV prevention options, with a particular focus on women.
- Value Chain Situation Analyses for PrEP completed.
- Modeling priorities identified.
- South Africa National Technical Working Group (TWG) engaged.
- Clearinghouse launched.
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POWER – May 2016
POWER develops cost-effective and scalable models for implementation of ARV-based HIV prevention products for women.
- On-site training conducted.
- PrEP delivery protocol drafted.
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EMOTION – May 2016
EMOTION increases uptake and correct and consistent use of ARV-based HIV prevention products by women at high risk of HIV infection using an end-user centered strategy.
- First HCD trip completed and umbrella brand developed.
- Second HCD trip planned.
- Pilot marketing study designed.
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CHARISMA – May 2016
CHARISMA supports efforts to: increase women’s agency to safely use ARV-based HIV prevention, to engage male partners in HIV prevention, and to overcome harmful gender norms and reduce intimate partner violence (IPV).
- HOPE intervention design underway.
- Social harms and IPV data analysis continued.
- Scaled social benefits-harms tool conceptualized.
- Qualitative research study underway.
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GEMS – May 2016
GEMS informs policies and defines programmatic considerations related to use of ARV-based HIV prevention products and risk of resistance.
- Information from PrEP trials and demo projects gathered.
- Model assumptions analysis ongoing.
- Policy and implementation steering committee convened.
- Country-specific PrEP guidance reviewed.
- Determination of sample collection methods underway.
Issue 1 – February 2016
Media Coverage
OPTIONS
“Want a healthy world? Let the HIV response lead the way.” Huffington Post. 25 Nov 2015.
“Approval of Truvada a game changer in anti-HIV/AIDS effort.” The East African. 9 Jan 2016.
POWER
“How a drug can help prevent 5000 girls being infected with HIV every week.” The Conversation. 21 Dec 2015.
“Tenofovir-based oral preexposure prophylaxis prevents HIV infection among women.” Current Opinion in HIV & AIDS. Jan 2016.
“Safety of oral tenofovir disoproxil fumarate-based pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention.” Expert Opinion on Drug Safety. Dec 2015.
GEMS
“Pittsburgh team monitors drug resistance of HIV prevention drugs during rollout.” NPR/WESA FM. 10 Aug 2015.
“Should we fear resistance from tenofovir / emtricitabine preexposure prophylaxis?” Current Opinion in HIV & AIDS. Jan 2016.
OPTIONS & POWER
“South Africa has excelled in treating HIV – prevention remains a disaster.” The Conversation. 30 Nov 2015.
“Planning for HIV preexposure prophylaxis introduction: lessons learned from contraception.” Current Opinion in HIV & AIDS. Jan 2016.
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OPTIONS – February 2016
The OPTIONS Consortium objective is to develop a streamlined, adaptable product delivery platform for current and future ARV-based HIV prevention options, with a particular focus on women.
- Supporting introduction of oral PrEP at the country level.
- Communications and dissemination.
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POWER – February 2016
POWER develops cost-effective and scalable models for implementation of ARV-based HIV prevention products for women.
- Preparing for formative work launch.
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EMOTION – February 2016
EMOTION increases uptake and correct and consistent use of ARV-based HIV prevention products by women at high risk of HIV infection using an end-user centered strategy.
- Project Kalahari preparation.
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CHARISMA – February 2016
CHARISMA supports efforts to: increase women’s agency to safely use ARV-based HIV prevention, to engage male partners in HIV prevention, and to overcome harmful gender norms and reduce intimate partner violence (IPV).
- Social benefits-harms tool and intervention development.
- Stakeholder engagement and scientific advisory group.
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GEMS – February 2016
GEMS informs policies and defines programmatic considerations related to use of ARV-based HIV prevention products and risk of resistance.
- Project start-up begins.