CALL FOR MORE INFO ON ZAMBIAN MICROBICIDE FAILED TRIALS

Pressure is mounting on the microbicide development program in Zambia to come out and explain itself on the failed microbicide trials which led to the infection of women in Mazabuka, a town in southern Zambia.
Initial public reports were that up to half of the 1,336 women in the trials were infected despite using the microbicide gel known as pro 2000 which was being used as an HIV prevention mechanism.
The microbicide development program Zambia office later revealed that of the 1,336 only 46 were infected although a full report would be made public in early 2010.
Against this background, the public health partnership forum has added its calls on the need for the researchers involved in the failed trials to relay more information on the research to the Zambian public.
Enock Kaputula, Publicity Secretary for the Public Health Partnership Forum in Zambia has said in an interview that blame for the failure of the said clinical trial needs to placed entirely on the researchers if it is established that the those with the responsibility did not comply with legal provisions.
“The blame for the failure of this trail should entirely lie on the researchers especially if it shall be found that the authorities behind this research did not comply with the provisions of part V11 of the pharmaceutical act of 2004 of the laws of Zambia” Kaputula said.
He says the research should be suspended immediately because it is a threat to public safety.
“We are therefore calling for the immediate suspension of this research because it is posing as a risk to public health, Kaputula further said”
“The reasons being advanced by the University of Zambia Biomedical Research Ethics Committee that the research proposal underwent rigorous review in accordance with the standard operating procedures of UNREC to ensure that the dignity, rights, safety and well being of participants were safeguarded is not very convincing without MDP producing a valid clinical trial certificate issued by the pharmaceutical regulatory authority proof that the gel was evaluated by the relevant authorities to ascertain its safety that the gel requirements were met,” Kaputula further explained.
He has since called on the ministry of health to continue enforcing a coordinated response to the HIV/aids fight in collaboration with the national aids council and other stakeholders.
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