AIDS Vaccine Research in Kenya

Summary

23 years have passed since AIDS was first diagnosed, and with 14,000 new HIV infections every day, we must speed the search for an AIDS vaccine - the world's best hope to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS

What is the issue, problem, or challenge?

The Int’l AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) is speeding the search for an AIDS vaccine – the world’s best hope to end the spread of HIV/AIDS. A preventative vaccine would be given to people uninfected with HIV to prevent them from becoming infected or developing AIDS. In Africa, most new HIV infections occur among women; a vaccine would protect women who are coerced into unsafe sex. Vaccines have eradicated smallpox from the planet and polio from most countries-we must add AIDS to this list.

How will this project solve this problem?

In Kenya, 4 trials of AIDS vaccine candidates implemented; training of local scientists; HIV testing and counseling; construction of vaccine trial facilities; and educating political leaders and community groups about the search for an AIDS vaccine

Potential Long Term Impact

Each month sooner that an effective AIDS vaccine is available will save millions of lives. Supporting IAVI’s work in Kenya will accelerate the search for an AIDS vaccine while providing new clinical facilities and training for local residents

Project Message

Supporting our work will accelerate our efforts toward developing and testing an AIDS vaccine.
- Dr. Elizabeth Ngugi & Dr. Omu Anzala, Chair, Department of Community Health

Additional Documentation

This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).

Resources