MAKE UP MARCH 2007


55

It is with more than a twinge of nostalgia that I write this
editorial for Journal 26. The first issue of the Journal of
HIV Medicine was distributed at the Internal Aids Society
Conference, Durban 2000. This issue will be distributed at

the National Aids Conference, Durban 2007. Once again
there is a wide variety of articles spanning epidemiology,
guidelines and clinical case studies.

I am happy in the knowledge that the Journal has found
a place on the desks and in the hearts of practitioners in
our region. It has I believe, achieved, a unique branding,
look and feel.

I am standing down as Editor with this edition, but I am
secure in the knowledge that the Journal will continue to
flourish in the very capable hands of the new Editor,
Professor Linda-Gail Bekker. I wish her and her editorial
team the very best for the future.

DES MARTIN
Editor

FROM THE EDITOR

It’s been a topsy-turvy few months in the HIV prevention
world. Two major circumcision trials were interrupted
because the benefit of male circumcision was so marked.
At the same time, two microbicide trials were stopped,
one because of a low HIV incidence rate, making the trial
impossible to complete, and another more recently that
suggested no benefit from microbicides, and possibly
even harm. The media storm over the ending of the
microbicides trials is unfortunate, as the news reports
referred to ‘guinea pigs’ and poor oversight, though
there was no real proof of any wrongdoing by the
scientists.

All this is very frustrating, leaving clinicians and public
health policy makers with very few biological
interventions to prevent HIV. Mother-to-child prevention
works well but is poorly implemented, ditto for post-
exposure prophylaxis for sexual assault; condoms work if
used consistently, but very few people use them
consistently; and circumcision is still trying to find its
place. A useable vaccine looks years away. Luckily, a novel
microbicide made of seaweed (!) is being tested in phase
three trials, and results are expected by the end of the
year.

In the wake of the microbicide criticism in some of the
media, we must continue to insist on rigorous clinical
trials. Our countries have been under siege by non-
scientific quacks and opportunists for too long to retreat
from good science.

FRANCOIS VENTER
President

M E S S A G E  F R O M  T H E  E X E C U T I V E

T H E S O U T H E R N A F R I C A N J O U R N A L O F H I V M E D I C I N E                              M A r C H 2 0 0 7

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