23 - 26 April 2006

The first microbicide conference on African soil was held in Cape Town in 2006. Microbicides are substances which can be applied to the vagina or rectum to prevent the sexual transmission of HIV and other STDs. At present, an effective microbicide is not available. The conference also discussed other intervention, such as ABC, Post Exposure Prophylaxis, circumcision and our response to gender violence.

Siyayinqoba Beat It! Episode 17 - HIV communication strategies

In this weeks episode of Siyayinqoba Beat It! 2006 we took a look at South Africa's current response to HIV prevention; ABC. ABC stands for Abstain, be faithful and condomise. There is a need to re-think this approach because South Africa's HIV infection rate is still on the increase despite our prevention efforts. The latest antenatal survey showed that over 30% of pregnant women are testing HIV positive and six million people are now living with HIV. Clearly, ABC is not working. We hear what Mrs. Mnguni, a guidance teacher from Daveyton and her pupils have to say about HIV prevention strategies. We also headed to International Microbicides Conference to hear the thinking there.