Transcript Slide 1
Impact of Advocacy on the Microbicides Field Microbicides 2006 Pre-Conference April 23, 2006 www.global-campaign.org The Global Campaign for Microbicides We are: A unifying platform for NGO activism and civil society interaction with scientific community and other stakeholders Our goals are to: • Raise awareness and mobilize political will for increased funding for microbicide research and eventual access; • Create a supportive policy and user environment for the timely development, introduction and use of new prevention technologies; and • Ensure that as science proceeds, the public interest is protected and the rights and interests of trial participants, users, and communities are fully represented and respected. www.global-campaign.org Advocacy for many reasons • Mobilizing resources • Focusing attention on access, acceptability and affordability issues • Ensuring that eventual consumers’ voices are heard throughout development • Ensuring that the public interest is protected and respected www.global-campaign.org Frederick Douglass – 1818-1895 US abolitionist & women’s rights advocate “Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.” www.global-campaign.org In the beginning……. Late 1980’s “If they can put a man on the moon, why can’t they make something we can use to protect ourselves from HIV?” Early 1990’s: Women’s Health Advocates on Microbicides (WHAM) First ethics consultation pre-dated launch of phase 2 or 3 studies of novel microbicides in developing countries www.global-campaign.org Advocacy work on ethics now…… – Build capacity in the activist/community sector for ethical deliberation and debate – Help give voice to community and civil society perspectives on trial design and ethics issues – Help forge consensus around ethical debates that could delay progress – Negotiate difficult line between urgency of the HIV epidemic and maintaining rigorous ethical standards www.global-campaign.org Preliminary annual funding needs Actual 2004 funding levels Additional annual funding needed $3M $3M Policy and Advocacy need $6M Product Development & Trials need $110M $72M Basic Scientific Research need $130M $65M All combined All combined: Annual funding needs to double! $38M $65M $140M need $246M Need $280 million $0 $50 $106M $100 $150 $200 $250 $300 Millions of Dollars (2004) www.global-campaign.org Making community voices heard… • In 2000 – concern about ever repeating the N-9 trial experience • Advocates called for “early DSMB look” for Savvy Phase 3 trial www.global-campaign.org 2005: Some advocates halted trials in Cambodia & Cameroon www.global-campaign.org Demand for Partnership between researchers and community CABs alone are purely advisory Authentic partnerships require: Activities and mechanisms that promote collaboration between communities, civil society, and research teams in decision-making, problem-solving and program implementation www.global-campaign.org These partnerships shape how trials are done by… • Building trust between community and researchers • Ensuring exchange of relevant information • Protecting the rights of trial participants • Supporting ethically sound and scientifically rigorous research that meets public needs • Providing tangible benefits to the community as well as individual participants • Reducing vulnerabilities of participating community • Preparing stakeholders to advocate collaboratively for resources, policy changes and preparing for access www.global-campaign.org Advocates protect the public interest…. • Spotlighting unproven product claims: • Lime juice • “Freedom Lube” • Genvia perhaps? • Addressing policy barriers to optimal trials – Laws against clean syringe access – US restrictions on HIV prevention funding www.global-campaign.org Advocates raise emerging issues… • Need for increased investment in rectal microbicide research • Need to attend NOW to concerns about microbicides for HIV positive women and men • Need to think NOW about impact that microbicide introduction will have on sex workers www.global-campaign.org Advocates contribute to success by… • Increasing pressure for adequate resources • Working to assure adequate Standard of Care – including ARVs, contraception & sexual health care - which helps participant recruitment and retention • Fostering engagement among stakeholders which – minimizes controversy and risk of disruption – informs essential acceptability and access work – Leads to collaborative advocacy to funders • Highlighting new issues and priorities www.global-campaign.org Going forward……. • Joint literacy training • Community literacy for researchers • Research literacy for communities • Joint advocacy efforts – Research alone can’t correct health disparities BUT – Activists, researchers and host communities can jointly advocate to governments and funders to do this www.global-campaign.org