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HIV/AIDS vaccine launches in South Africa
Independent Online. 21 November 2006. Republished courtesy of Independent Newspapers (Pty) Ltd.
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The launch of the Southern African leg of a global partnership intended to produce a vaccine against HIV/AIDS was announced by the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) on Tuesday.
"My vision is a vibrant Southern Africa that is HIV/AIDS free. To achieve this, we need a regional collaboration that brings together diverse partners from South Africa and other countries to create the enabling environment for continued progress on HIV/AIDS vaccines," said Dr Valeria Manda who will head up the IAVI's Southern African programme, to be based in Johannesburg.
The organisation has been collaborating with African scientists to study promising HIV/AIDS vaccine candidates since 1998 and has since conducted eight clinical trials on the continent.
"Southern Africa, with growing biomedical capabilities, strong manufacturing base and scientific talent, can make an important contribution to the global search for an HIV/AIDS vaccine, the best hope of ending the HIV/AIDS pandemic," said Seth Berkley, president of the IAVI.
"South Africa was one of the first governments in the world to understand the importance of new HIV/AIDS prevention technologies, establishing the South African AIDS Vaccine Initiative (SAAVI) to co-ordinate the research and testing of HIV candidates."
The IAVI has offices in Nairobi, New Delhi, Amsterdam and New York.
"We look forward to deepening our relationship with SAAVI and other organisations in the region to find viable solutions to the HIV/AIDS crisis," he said.
The South African programme will support the IAVI's expanding activities in the region and will work closely with the Medical Research Council, the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation, the Medical University of SA and the Zambia Emory HIV Research Project.
"The office will serve as a focal point for our expanding programs in Southern Africa, and help us forge partnerships with key groups in Zambia, Mozambique, Botswana, South Africa and other countries in the region," concluded Berkley. |
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