via Zim’s first HIV vaccine trial | The Herald November 17, 2015
Zimbabwe will conduct its first ever HIV vaccine trial as part of efforts to curb the spread of HIV in February next year, officials have said. The HIV trial comes at a time when the global community is doubling efforts to curb the epidemic which had claimed the lives of about 800 000 people by 2013 in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe’s HIV prevalence stands at 15 percent, with 1, 4 million people living with the epidemic.
Dr Lynda Stranix-Chibanda, a paediatrician at the University of Zimbabwe College Of Health Sciences, yesterday told journalists in Bulawayo that the first trial would be carried out in Chitungwiza before spreading to other areas, including Bulawayo. “We are happy that after a long wait, we will start researching on an HIV vaccine. “A vaccine is a substance that teaches the immune system how to protect itself against a virus or bacteria,” said Dr Stranix-Chibanda.
She said the initiative was being conducted on behalf of the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) and it would be in conjunction with the UZ and University of California San Francisco (UZ-UCSF) Collaborative Research Programme.
“We will start with a sample size of 24 adults aged between 18 and 40 years from Chitungwiza, since it is nearer to the university. “We will then conduct two more researches with larger samples, a process which will take about three years before we can reach conclusions of the HIV vaccine efficacy,” Dr Stranix-Chibanda said.
“Scientists have been looking for an Aids vaccine to prevent infection in HIV negative people over the last 30 years. HIV comes in many varieties and mutates rapidly. It primarily attacks every cell needed to mount an effective immune system.” Dr Stranix- Sibanda said other related researches were being conducted at the National University of Science and Technology in Bulawayo.
“This research is part of 11 other researches being carried out in SADC countries,” she said.
COMMENTS
Let’s hope it is true. But why not build on on-going research rather than start something new?
Would love to hear the developments of the the trials.What if the trial damage the health of the people.Any compensation.How would you choose the participants.
Splashing pictures all over of useless maggots such as the fake Phd Gracewhore Gaadamnit ….! why not owner and elevate well meaning people with drive and purpose, dr Stranix-Sibanda with a full page portrait instead ! You will be amazed by the overflowing appreciation from Zimbos of all pursuations. Once again, thanks Doctor for the work you do, way way ahead of the pack. PASI ne ZANU !!
It’s an American research initiatives done in Zimbabwe!
Just a follow up of the researches done in 2015.Any achievements or failures you may wonder why lam interested.l would love to offer Grief Recovery Method to people who lost their loved ones or are struggling to cope with their diagnosis l do not judge or analyze what’s going on with them.