The development of a vaginal gel that can cut the risk of HIV infection in a woman over 50% has was one of the few unqualified victories amid a decade of setbacks in research against HIV / AIDS. Tomorrow, the husband and wife team of researchers who proved the effectiveness of the gel will receive the first prize Olusegun Obasanjo of the African Academy of Sciences (AAS) at a ceremony in Nairobi, Kenya.
"Quarraisha and I are humbled and honored to be the recipient," South African epidemiologist Salim Abdool Karim said Science INSIDER, referring to his wife, Quarraisha Abdool Karim. "Women are the main victims of the HIV epidemic in southern Africa. Tenofovir gel is the first HIV prevention technology to enable them to directly control their risk of HIV infection. "
The award is named for the former president of Nigeria. Malik Maaza physicist the LABS-iThemba National Research Foundation of South Africa and member of ASA, said Obasanjo has set up $ 5 million of his own money and his gift "was highly scrutinized by noble minds and member senior capable of ASA before acceptance. "the prize money of $ 5,000 carries extra meaning of being a science prize by and for Africans, he said.
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