In this interview, Idah Mulala, a registered nurse and strong advocate for HIV prevention, particularly among adolescents and young people, shares her passion for HIV prevention and her work with the Coalition to Accelerate and Support Prevention Research (CASPR). She discusses her experiences at the 5th HIV Research for Prevention Conference (HIVR4P 2024) in Lima, Peru, and her thoughts on the future of HIV prevention.
Key Takeaways:
- Social behavior change is a cost-effective tool in HIV prevention: When combined with robust advocacy efforts, it can lead to a reduction in HIV transmission and a more sustainable approach to prevention.
- Youth participation is crucial: Idah emphasizes the importance of involving young people in HIV prevention research and development, ensuring that their voices are heard and their needs are met.
- Community engagement is key: Researchers must engage with the community, listen to their concerns, and involve them in the research process to build trust and ensure that interventions are culturally relevant and effective.
- Digital platforms can be powerful tools: Idah discusses the use of social media and other digital platforms to engage and educate young people about HIV prevention, highlighting the importance of choice and autonomy in HIV prevention.
- The future of HIV prevention is exciting: With new biomedical HIV prevention tools on the horizon, Idah is optimistic about the potential for innovative solutions that prioritize community voices and needs.
Quote: “For me, the perfect HIV prevention tool would be very attractive in terms of color and size, but also it would inform pleasure in terms of sexuality. So if I’m going to use a product to protect myself in terms of HIV or STIs, it shouldn’t just be about risks and fear, but it should also contribute to pleasure.”
