This grant announcement appears inconsistent. First it says that the grant will support networks of people living with HIV to design and monitor prevention strategies. Then it says these strategies are "microbicides, pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis, and other antiretroviral-based prevention strategies, as well as male circumcision". Aren't HIV negative and untested scientists competent to run trials for these medications and roll out adult circumcision? Do they not allow people living with HIV to participate?

BTW isn't 'male circumcision' a tautology? There is no female circumcision - just female genital mutilation.

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GNP+ RECEIVES BILL & MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION GRANT TO SUPPORT
PREVENTION PROGRAMMES DRIVEN BY PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV

AMSTERDAM - The Global Network of People living with HIV (GNP+) is
proud to announce the start of a new programme to stimulate the
leadership of people living with HIV in prevention strategies.

GNP+ has received a $998,000 grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation to support a two-year programme to build a stronger global
response to the HIV epidemic by helping organizations and networks of
people living with HIV worldwide to design and monitor prevention
strategies.

Attention to the role of people living with HIV in prevention has
grown in recent years, as antiretroviral therapies have enabled people
with HIV to live longer, fuller lives. People who are HIV-positive
need prevention programmes to help them stay healthy and avoid
sexually transmitted and opportunistic infections. They also need
support for their efforts to protect their sex partners, or those they
inject drugs with, from HIV infection.

As people living with HIV live longer, their hopes and dreams of
leading normal lives are becoming a reality. HIV-positive people have
the same aspirations as others to plan and have families and to remain
productive within their communities.

Wide-reaching and well-designed prevention programmes that capitalise
on the leadership of people living with HIV have the potential to save
the health and lives of millions. To be effective, prevention
strategies must be responsive to and compatible with the practical
realities people living with HIV contend with in trying to protect
themselves and others, while optimising their quality of life and that
of their family members.

This GNP+ programme is rooted in the belief that the active engagement
of people living with HIV is critical to the success and uptake of HIV
prevention programmes. Through its regional partners, GNP+ will
encourage and gather input from people living with HIV around the
world. In addition, GNP+ and its partners will promote research
designed to fill evidence gaps related to effective prevention efforts
focused on the needs of people living with HIV.

The programme will include a focus on supporting the development of
new preventive technologies, such as microbicides, pre- and
post-exposure prophylaxis, and other antiretroviral-based prevention
strategies, as well as male circumcision. In these areas, GNP+ will
work to ensure and promote the involvement of people living with HIV
in clinical trial protocol development and monitoring, and in
integrating proven technologies into comprehensive approaches to HIV.

Martin Stolk
Communications Coordinator,
Global Network of People living with HIV/AIDS (GNP+)
Te: +31-20-423 4114
e-mail: mstolk@gnpplus.net