Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2009. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Sunday Times (Johannesburg) - February 14, 2009
Teneshia Naidoo
Desiree Asoker, 27, an HIV-negative mother from Westcliff, volunteered two years ago to be part of the study, which tested the efficacy of vaginal gels in preventing the transmission of HIV, conducted by the Medical Research Council's HIV Prevention Research Unit.
The two-year trial saw more than 3000 women in the US, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa test two gels containing microbicides.
The results, released this week at Chatsworth's RK Khan hospital, showed that one of the gels was partially successful in preventing the spread of HIV infection.
Head of the council's HIV unit, Professor Gita Ramjee, said: "For the women in South Africa it's something that they can use without their partner's knowledge and they could protect themselves against HIV."
Asoker said: "If this gel can actually stop the passing of HIV to women then it would be good for them everywhere and they wouldn't have to be afraid of their husbands or boyfriends.
"I have heard of men in Chatsworth who sleep around and then get HIV and give it to their wives and this is so sad.
"So if this gel can work, it can help these women here," she said.
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