Country Programs Officer for the organization, Novis Bamusi made the remarks in Mzuzu during a day-long media training organized to brief journalists on the progress of the vaginal ring study, one of the modern HIV prevention measures under trial.

Bamusi said their interest is to bring awareness about research to the grassroot level that they have information on the results of the trials that are happening around in as far as HIV/AIDS is concerned.

“We called the media to brief them on the trials and research that we conduct. We want to equip them with information so that they are to report on these things to the masses. So, we are working hand in hand with the research teams to report on the progress we are making,” said Bamusi.

He said people have misconceptions on the way studies are conducted and their organization hopes to clear them and engage more people to take part in the studies in order to come up with accurate results.

In Malawi, the research was conducted by the University of Carolina, and Tchangani Tembo the Project Study Coordinator for the University said Malawians should be optimistic because women who adhered to the product were protected by 71 percent which is a good result.

“This is a good result and women will have an additional preventive option that will give them the much desired power to protect them from HIV. The product is not yet on the market but processes are in place to put them on the market,” said Tembo.