The Girl Effect on HIV

The truth is that girls in the developing world are at the very center of the HIV epidemic. Unfortunately not much has been done to address this issue-so it continues to get worse. Last month 20,000 researchers gathered in Vienna to discuss some new ways of combatting this issue. Simple things like providing access to a vaginal microbicidal gel showed hugely positive results with young women in South Africa. Overall, participants were 39 percent less likely over all to contract HIV than those who used a placebo. The number jumped to 54 percent for those who used the gel most regularly. Right now, nearly 13 percent of girls of South African girls (ages 15-24) are infected with HIV. Studies have shown that the majority of those infected were intimately involved with older men. In fact, according to UNAIDS executive director Michel Sidibé argues that "Recognizing and addressing the factors that drive young women and men to have sex with older people is paramount." He goes on to say that it's linked to development issues like education and employment - "When basic necessities are not met, vulnerability increases." And as Maria Eitel recently wrote, "When the only asset a girl has is her body, her wellbeing is a risky financial investment. She's pulled out of school, married off, dependent on a sugar daddy, or forced into transactional sex." The Girl effect is combatting these effects by empowering these girls and giving them the financial means to complete their education and develop skills that will lead to a better future.