01 December 2010
DR BRIAN BRINK, CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, ANGLO AMERICAN AND THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S HEALTH COALITION SAYS THAT HIV INFECTION AMONG WOMEN AND GIRLS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES NEEDS URGENT ATTENTION

The disproportionate burden of HIV/AIDS borne by women and girls in most developing countries requires urgent attention. At the heart of the problem is profound gender inequality and inequity, coupled with the systematic disempowerment of women, which has been condoned by society for generations.

Although this is a global problem, it is particularly evident in developing countries, and the HIV/AIDS epidemic, therefore, is merely exposing underlying failures in society.

Comprehensive sexuality education for adolescent boys and girls is probably the single most important intervention for correcting gender stereotypes and imbalances, and for preventing violence against women and the further spread of HIV.  Therefore well-defined and proven curricula need to be implemented at high schools by skilled educators.

Unfortunately, the reproductive health services for women and girls in developing countries are universally not up to standard.  The services that need urgent attention include family planning, ante-natal, peri-natal and post-natal care, diagnosis and treatment of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI’s), including HIV, early diagnosis and treatment of cancer of the cervix and access to safe and legalised abortion.  In fact, criminal abortion is rife and extremely dangerous in developing countries, accounting for around 12% of all maternal mortality.

Specific and targeted investment is therefore required to improve all of these reproductive health services.

Female condoms have also not been given a chance as an important female controlled method of preventing HIV infection, and unwanted pregnancy.  When women are properly counselled and trained on the use of female condoms, there is a very high acceptance and demand for their availability.

The female condom is particularly effective in violent or non-consensual relationships, where an abusive male partner, often under the influence of alcohol, refuses to take protective measures to prevent unwanted pregnancy and/or the transmission of infection. Much greater investment into research and development of this modality of HIV prevention needs to be made.

Much recent publicity has been given to antiretroviral drug (tenofovir) containing microbicide gel in the prevention of HIV infection, which appears to be 40% effective.  This is good news indeed, and shows promise for a female controlled method of prevention.  The same degree of enthusiasm and investment in research and development should be directed towards female condoms.

In conclusion, a major gap exists in developing countries, which do not have the monetary momentum of the developed world, to sufficiently promote much needed HIV/AIDS initiatives.  The striking gender disparity in the burden of HIV infection in many developing countries can only be rectified by high impact initiatives that promote the sexual health and protect the human rights of women and girls in these countries.  A partnership approach with companies that operate in these countries is increasingly being seen as a best practice approach to fast tracking the wider education, prevention and treatment campaigns to those most in need.

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For further information, please contact:

South Africa
Pranill Ramchander, Media Relations
Tel: +27 (0)11 638 2592

Editors Notes:

Dr Brian Brink is the current chair of the International Women’s Health Coalition, which can also provide excellent technical advice on the most appropriate interventions in support of women and girls in developing countries, particularly Latin America (Brazil, Peru, Columbia, Argentina), South East Asia (India & Bangladesh), West Africa (Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana) and increasingly Southern Africa.

Anglo American
Anglo American plc is one of the world’s largest mining companies, is headquartered in the UK and listed on the London and Johannesburg stock exchanges. It’s portfolio of mining businesses spans precious metals and minerals – in which it is a global leader in both platinum and diamonds; base metals – copper and nickel; and bulk commodities – iron ore, metallurgical coal and thermal coal. Anglo American is committed to the highest standards of safety and responsibility across all its businesses and geographies and to making a sustainable difference in the development of the communities around its operations. The company’s mining operations and extensive pipeline of growth projects are located in southern Africa, South America, Australia, North America and Asia.
www.angloamerican.com