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Powerful New Exhibit Details Woman’s Struggle with HIV and Explores Promise of Microbicides, A New HIV Prevention Technology
Philadelphia, PA – The Pennsylvania Campaign for Microbicides, a local affiliate of the Global Campaign for Microbicides, is launching the start of a thirteen city tour of Giving Women Power Over AIDS, a traveling exhibit designed to provide a compelling, visual narrative of the story of Ruth, a mother dying of AIDS, and her child, Martha, one of the 11 million children orphaned by AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. In a city where nearly three out of every four Philadelphians diagnosed with AIDS are African American and AIDS is the leading cause of death for African-American women ages 25-34, the exhibit provides a first hand look at the reality of HIV/AIDS and new information about prevention technology.
There are three showings of the exhibit:
October 28: Evening Reception, 5:30-8:30
International House of Philadelphia, 3701 Chestnut Street
Guest Speakers at 6:30:
Dr. Helena Kwakwa, Mercy Hospital
Anne-Marie Corner, Biosyn, Inc.
November 5: First Friday Art Walk: 10am-10pm
Christ Church Neighborhood House, Second Street above Market Street
November 6: Open House: 10am-5pm
Christ Church Neighborhood House, Second Street above Market Street
In 2002, reporter Paula Bock and photographer Betty Udesen of The Seattle Times traveled to Zimbabwe. The resulting photo-essay, In Her Mother’s Shoes, is one of the most gripping visual representations to date for deepening the understanding of women’s vulnerabilities to HIV and the role that new prevention technologies, such as microbicides, could play in reducing women’s risk.
Named one of the "10 most promising biotechnologies for improving global health," microbicides are a class of products currently under development that women and their partners could apply topically to prevent transmission of HIV and other infections. According to a recent development reported in the journal Science, researchers in the U.S. and Switzerland have developed a chemical that provides potent protection to female monkeys exposed to the AIDS virus.
The Global Campaign for Microbicides is a broad-based, international effort to build support among policymakers, opinion leaders, and the general public for increased investment into microbicides and other user-controlled prevention methods. Through advocacy, policy analysis, and social science research, the Campaign works to accelerate product development, facilitate widespread access and use, and protect the needs and interests of users, especially women.
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Sample Press Release
For Immediate Release: [Date] Media Contact: [ ]
Powerful New Exhibit To Detail One Woman’s Struggle with HIV And Explore The Promise of Microbicides, A New HIV Prevention Technology
[Local Campaign] Welcomes “Giving Women Power Over AIDS” to [City]
[City, State] – The [Local Campaign] and the Global Campaign for Microbicides are pleased to announce the arrival of Giving Women Power Over AIDS, a traveling exhibit designed to raise awareness and support for the global war on AIDS and emerging HIV prevention technologies such as microbicides. The exhibit will run from [X Date] to [Y Date] at [Location].
“Giving Women Power Over AIDS is an inspiring account of one woman’s strength and very personal struggle with the global AIDS epidemic,” said X. “But the themes of the exhibit – empowering women around the globe, concern for the future well-being of our children, and perseverance and hope in the face of overwhelming adversity – are truly universal.”
“The face of the AIDS epidemic is increasingly female – women now account for over half of those infected with HIV worldwide, and 60% of those infected in Africa. Biologically, women are two to four times more vulnerable to HIV infection than men,” said Lori Heise, Director of the Global Campaign for Microbicides. “Microbicides will empower women like never before – particularly in the developing world where women often lack the societal or economic standing to control their sexual encounters.”
“We can no longer afford to ignore the grim reality that culturally powerless, monogamous women in the developing world, like Ruth, have become the epicenter of the HIV epidemic,” added Heise. “The great promise of microbicides is that Ruth’s daughter, and the millions of children of AIDS-infected parents like her, won’t continue the destructive and catastrophic cycle of AIDS.”
In 2003, reporter Paula Bock and photographer Betty Udesen of the Seattle Times traveled to Zimbabwe to get a firsthand look at the reality of HIV/AIDS. The resulting photo-essay is one of the most gripping visual representations to date for deepening the understanding of women’s vulnerabilities to HIV and the role that new prevention technologies, such as microbicides, could play in reducing women’s risk.
Recently named one of the "10 most promising biotechnologies for improving global health," microbicides are a class of products currently under development that women and their partners could apply topically to prevent transmission of HIV and other infections. Over 60 candidate microbicides are in the pipeline and 18 are already in clinical testing, with 6 of those entering late-stage testing this year. Many researchers believe that, with an increase in funding and cooperation, a microbicide could be available to women in developing nations within five years. Even a partially-effective microbicide could stop 2.5 million infections over three years.
The Global Campaign for Microbicides is a broad-based, international effort to build support among policymakers, opinion leaders, and the general public for increased investment into microbicides and other user-controlled prevention methods. Through advocacy, policy analysis, and social science research, the Campaign works to accelerate product development, facilitate widespread access and use, and protect the needs and interests of users, especially women.
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