1. Home
  2. Southern Africa
  3. Zambia
  • News

Women empowered by microbicides

Zambia's government on Thursday said the recent introduction of microbicides will help reduce HIV/AIDS prevalence rates among women in the country. Microbicides is a gel-like substance used by women before sexual intercourse to neutralise, kill or block HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. "Women can now protect themselves when their male counterparts refuse to use condoms during intercourse. In terms of acceptability it has been medically proven by researchers as an effective method of preventing HIV infections among women," deputy minister of health, Rosemary Chipampe, told the UN news service PlusNews. Chipampe said last Saturday saw the successful launch of the country's pilot Microbicides Development Program in Mazabuka, southern Zambia.

This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

Share this article

Our ability to deliver compelling, field-based reporting on humanitarian crises rests on a few key principles: deep expertise, an unwavering commitment to amplifying affected voices, and a belief in the power of independent journalism to drive real change.

We need your help to sustain and expand our work. Your donation will support our unique approach to journalism, helping fund everything from field-based investigations to the innovative storytelling that ensures marginalised voices are heard.

Please consider joining our membership programme. Together, we can continue to make a meaningful impact on how the world responds to crises.

Become a member of The New Humanitarian

Support our journalism and become more involved in our community. Help us deliver informative, accessible, independent journalism that you can trust and provides accountability to the millions of people affected by crises worldwide.

Join