The new AIDS gel

It was announced yesterday that a new vaginal gel was proven statistically to reduce the spread of AIDS. This study involved 889 women in South Africa, one-half of the women were given a placebo gel to take before and after intercourse. The other half received a vaginal gel that included the AIDS drug tenovofir. It is the addition of the drug that seems to have made the difference in reducing HIV infection. It was also found that continued use of the gel seemed to strengthen its ability to create a beneficial barrior to the virus.

The vaginal gel is hailed as being particularly useful in Africa because the transmittal of HIV is usually through heterosexual contact and usually through the woman's husband. The gel also cut the transmittal of genital herpes by 51 percent. That was a surprise to researchers.

As happy as I am that there seems to be a rainbow in the doom and gloom of HIV/AIDS, it still concerns me that 39 percent of the women became infected with HIV. If the women are becoming infected by their husbands, what are their husbands doing? Again, I am happy that this drug cuts the transmission of genital herpes, but what is the cause of that?

With the positive outcome of this study and continued research to insure the safety and effectiveness of this product, the vaginal gel can be another useful weapon to fight HIV/AIDS.   But, what brought us here in the first place? What must we do to insure a healthy and prosperous future for our children. I am not advocating, in any way, shape, or form that we not use drugs available to prevent or extend the life of those with HIV/AIDS. I don't even want to play the blame game; and blame those with HIV for the virus that invaded their bodies. I just wonder how we got here in the first place and if this gel will allow women to live promising lives.