Microbicides 2004 Microbicides 200428-31 March 2004, Hilton London MetropoleThe conference42 million men, women and children worldwide were living with HIV by the end of December 2002 (source: UNAIDS), including five million newly-infected during that year alone. Another 45 million people will become infected between 2002 and 2010, unless the current transmission rates can be vastly reduced. Of the 42 million, 29.4 million live in sub-Saharan Africa and 58% of them are women. Not only are women more susceptible to HIV infection, many are powerless to insist on the use of condoms or other methods of protecting themselves. In this context, and with the knowledge that an effective HIV vaccine is unlikely to be available for several years, the need for an effective topical microbicide grows ever more urgent. 2004 should prove to be a landmark year in the field of microbicide development as the first Phase III trials of novel products are due to start – the next step along the road to making a microbicide available to the millions worldwide in desperate need of protection.The aims of the Microbicides 2004 conference are to:Report novel or innovative work in the microbicides fieldProvide updates on recent microbicides research, divided into three tracks: basic science, clinical science, and behavioural science (including public health and the microbicide marketplace)Provide a forum for the discussion of new developments in microbicide research including ethical, clinical, behavioural and methodological issuesPresent opportunities for knowledge-sharing between microbicide researchers, public-health workers and advocacy organisations.There will be an opening ceremony on the evening of Sunday 28 March at which politicians, policy makers and the international media are expected. The conference will run for a full three days, each of which will contain:Scientific overviews and presentations with plenary sessions, invited lecturers and presentations of original researchWorkshops to review issues unique to microbicides such as trial design and outcome measures, and ethical issues in the clinical trials of microbicidesPoster sessions. Focus on LondonFollowing the successful Microbicides conferences in Washington in 2000 and Antwerp in 2002, March 2004 sees the focus move to London.The venue is the Hilton Metropole Hotel, two minutes by taxi from Paddington station and the Heathrow Express, with a journey time from the airport of 15 minutes. The hotel is in walking distance of Hyde Park and London’s main shopping streets, and close to Imperial College. Accommodation will be available at the venue and other hotels in the vicinity.London in March offers a variety of diversions for out-of-conference relaxation, including sight-seeing and shopping; the arts and the theatre; and pubs, clubs and restaurants to suit every taste. Conference staff will be on hand to help delegates plan their spare time.To book your place or find out more information, e-mail info@microbicides2004.org.uk or telephone the Event Office on +44 (0) 20 7720 4411
Oral: invited speaker Oral: Track A Oral: Track B Oral: Track C Poster: Track A Poster: Track B Poster: Track C Abstract only Authors

02649 MOBILISING MEDIA ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS FOR FEMALE CONTROLLED OPTIONS IN NIGERIA

AKANNI OLAYIDE
FALOBI. O
*JOURNALISTS AGAINST AIDS (JAAIDS) NIGERIA

Background
An effective microbicide, made accessible and available to women in developing countries, who bear the brunt of the HIV epidemic will undoubtedly alter the course of the epidemic, by giving women the power to protect themselves and their partners from HIV and Sexually transmitted Infections(STIs).

Despite growing efforts from advocates and scientists in the developed world to ensure women’s access to safe, cheap, effective and accessible female controlled female controlled HIV prevention options barrier methods such as microbicides, the voices of the affected communities in many developing countries remain unheard.

In Nigeria for instance, ignorance, lack of awareness and lack of involvement in policy advocacy issues regarding microbicides, contribute to the silence on the part of the media, people living with HIV, Sex workers ,community leaders, care providers, scientists, and other related stakeholders in the fight against HIV/AIDS. There is therefore an urgent need to accelerate community activism and participation in Nigeria in order to help create a demand for female controlled options particularly where it is most needed.

Description
Media Monitoring: Journalists Against AIDS (JAAIDS) Nigeria conducted a three month long base-line survey to determine the depth of coverage / focus and the level of media reporting in Nigeria on female controlled HIV prevention methods between June-September 2003. Reports from six major national newspapers in the country and three community based publications were analysed over the period in focus.

Focused Group Discussion: Two focused group discussions (FGDs) with representatives of the identified stakeholder groups will hold in November 2003 to examine the myths and misconceptions surrounding female controlled options, concerns, advocacy challenges in their respective localities, and how they can be overcome.

Capacity Building: Key issues in microbicide policy advocacy, research and development, public communication and enlightenment as well as recommendations from the FGDs will form the content of 3 JAAIDS training workshops for the media and community representatives which will hold between November 2003 and March 2004.The workshop content will be designed in collaboration with the newly established Nigeria HIV Vaccine and Microbicides Advocacy group ( NHVMAG) with a view to broaden the knowledge base of participants and empower voices from the community with the knowledge and skills to mobilise and engage their constituencies in advocating for access to female controlled HIV prevention options.

Findings
Findings from the Media base line survey revealed that there is a dearth of focus on female controlled options in the media; which ought to be a key agenda setters in advocacy around such issues. It also revealed the need for media based organisations to bridge the media’s knowledge gap on these issues. As a follow-up, JAAIDS Nigeria will hold a series of media discussion roundtables on female controlled options are planned for Media gatekeepers between November 20003 and February 2004.

Findings from the preliminary activities conducted by Journalists Against AIDS (JAAIDS)Nigeria clearly indicate the need for a co-ordinated strategy to engage a corps of advocates from the media and other identified groups to create community awareness, understanding, preparedness, support, demand as well as a conducive policy environment that will facilitate continued and sustained access to female controlled HIV/STI prevention options .

MS. OLAYIDE AKANNI
JAAIDS NIGERIA , P.O. BOX 56282 FALOMO, LAGOS
(Telephone) 234-1-7731457, 8128565 (Fax)   (E-mail) larayide@yahoo.co.uk / olayide@nigeria-aids.org