Night in Vienna

Ground-breaking gamechanger for women's health

At the International AIDS Conference in Vienna promising results were shared from a clinical trial of a microbicide to be used by women for HIV prevention.  This is great news indeed.  Since the beginning of the epidemic, one of the frustrating things has been that a woman has no way to protect herself from HIV infection without depending on her partner in some way.  All three methods of HIV prevention require some degree of cooperation from her guy:

• condom use - ultimately it's his call; 
• mutual monogamy between two HIV-negative partners  - again, she can be as monogamous as she wants, but it won't necessarily protect her if he is not - and vice versa, of course, though sadly the monogamy deck is stacked against her in many cultures and countries where there is high HIV prevalence; and 
• abstinence  - well, we all know how that goes! - not only is it exceedingly challenging between two people with any sort of chemistry and hormones, it's really a non-starter for many woman (and of course, in the case of rape, coerced and otherwise involuntary sex).  In places like Africa, where HIV prevalence is high, partner communication is low, and pressure for married couples to make babies is strong, the notion of refusing sex or insisting on condom use, even if she perhaps suspects he may be infected or at risk, in a marriage setting just won't fly

So where does that leave a woman in Johannesburg where HIV infection is 18% (or anywhere else for that matter)?  Up the creek without a paddle in terms of taking control of her health and life, with any sort of viable option to protect herself from HIV infection.  An effective microbicide could change that.

Clinical trials for microbicides (vaginal gels that can be applied to neutralize the virus and protect from infection) have been going on for years have had mixed results, at best. The news of this study is ground-breaking and could change the HIV prevention landscape.   In this particular clinical trial in South Africa, prevention of transmission os not 100% failsafe, only significantly reduced.  Researchers want to improve the efficacy, continue with additional trials, and if viable, get this thing to market ASAP.

Fabulous news! (Sometimes I miss practicing public health).

Vienna: Hollman-Beletage Hotel

Magnetic Poetry Set for the UN

I've been in Vienna for one of those big international meetings.  In this case, it's the International AIDS Conference that takes place every 2 years (next one in DC in 2012).  To be more precise, I've been at a pre-conference symposium of about 450 people, as well as some smaller meetings.  The global conference has about 20,000 people and starts today - which is why I'm skipping town and heading home.  I enjoy my work on most days, and I used to do even more of this global hob-nobbing, but I grew weary and had other interests in life besides moving the gears of international bureaucracy, so I've moved in a slightly different direction.  Still when I'm back in the game, I get jazzed to be among my people talking about our stuff.  Increasingly though, I'm a little glazed and slightly dazed at these things. As an outsider, I find myself slightly bemused in our meetings, where we speak alot and say nothing, so I've decided to develop a magnetic poetry set for attending global meetings.  String together any of the below words and phrases, and you can participate, too!

inclusion     participation     participatory    comprehensive    inform    disseminate    society    community    community-based    healthcare systems     access     quality services      reduction    elimination    virtual elimination   eradicate    alleviate    women and children    safety and security    society    reach     researchers and practitioners     create     develop    support     strengthen    most vulnerable     affirm    re-affirm    commit    re-commit    progress    adequate progress   appropriate     process     measure    civil society     contribute    empower   reach    bringing together    chronicle and document   joint-efforts    gatekeepers    entry points   advance   rigor   robust evidence    knowledge gap    action   efforts   initiative     challenges and opportunities     stakeholders    partnerships   public-private partnerships    outcomes    results     resources   goals   2012   2015   programmes    
                    

Wien Tour

I have little time to explore and observe on these work trips.  In fact, today, Sunday, I had a meeting from 10am until noon, and later on I have a reception at 6pm.  In between though, I took a quickie self-guided  tour of Vienna to get a better sense of its feel and flavor.  Admittedly, I was pretty efficient, this was definitely the 10-minute overview, but I got a decent sense of some of the city, and a sneak preview for my next visit someday when I come back on a real vacation with my lover.

It started with the U-bahn, a very good subway system with some of my favorite public transit amenities - clear signage; good, conceptual maps; the timing of the next train; and good subway car layout, with priority seats marked  for elderly, handicapped, and exhausted, swollen pregnant women.

I headed towards my meeting at the Vienna International Centre (the VIC, as I now affectionately call it) in the newest part of the city which houses the United Nations complex.  Quite honestly, it is horrid.  The buildings are pretty "Bloc-ish," and there is very little sidewalk-scape or civic life.  Large expanses of concrete pose as sweeping plazas.  This quarter must have been designed by a UN sub-committee.

(Tour more of Vienna... wacky architecture, Klimpt's Kiss, a streetside freak show, Mozart's sex life, and the perfect Viennese cafe!!... after the link.)

Vienna: Hotel room (and an ice bath)

My hotel room is awesome - huge with 15-foot ceilings and two humongous windows overlooking the street. It is completely multifunctional for quality sleep, work, bathing, and chilling out , with lovely well-considered amenities.  It is spare, but smart.  Euro Chic all the way.  Its modern and minimalist design enchants me. But while I'm charmed by some of the smart design details, at the same time I can find this design aesthetic impractical (once it's actually functioning, all the clean lines are lost) and uncomfortable (a little welcoming warmth and softness goes a long way for me).

In front of the windows, two small leather chairs stand on either side of a table-cum-fridge.  The platform bed faces the two windows.  It has crisp white sheets and a fluffy white duvet, punctuated by orange and red textured throw pillows.  Its brown-leather upholstered backboard on one side serves as a long counter running along the other side, incorporating a sink and a desk.  Along another wall, a long alcove houses a sleek armoire, a stand-alone tub on a platform open to the room, and a literal water closet holding the toilet.

It has been a long day - actually a blend of three long days since my departure from home.  Today's 2-hour flight from London to Vienna was much, much more grueling than anticipated - altogether a 7-hour journey by taxi, train, and delayed plane, arriving at my hotel just after midnight.  My ultimate arrival in this room - where I will spend the next four nights - is a welcome relief.  But, also way damn hot.  It seems Vienna has been balmy these last days, and it is 80 degrees and humid even at this late hour.  The a/c is doing its best, but not really working.

First things first. I put on the CD of (Austrian) music provided in the CD player.   I crack open a (Austrian) beer from the minibar, open some (Austrian) peanuts, and cut up an apple.  And when my simple dinner is finished, I indulge in the chocolate truffle left by my bedside.  I'm satisfied, and starting to feel my travel-induced grouchy edge begin to smooth out.

Then, still uncomfortably hot, I strip naked to unpack my bags.  It's my habit to settle into a hotel room even for a night.  Hanging up clothes, charging my gadgets on the desk, laying my toothbrush and toothpaste on the sink, arranging my Vogue magazine (and The Economist) on the little table where I enjoyed  the peanuts and beer, placing my book on the nightstand.  The room is not cooling down, however, and I can feel sweat droplets running down my neck and back, one drips onto my foot.

Unpacked, but still sweaty and uncomfortable, I ponder my next move.  The bath beckons, and I run an icy one - all cold! - complete with the bubblebath the hotel has thoughtfully provided.  A cold bubble bath - this might be my first.  I turn off all the lights in the room, and brace myself for the chill as I alight the tub's platform.  The first dip is a bit of a shock, but soon, I'm enjoying the refreshing cool bath, the dark room, and being able to see out the window to the night street. At long last, I relax.