Advocates Archive - W
[please choose the first initial of the Advocate's last name]
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Roy Wadia
Vancouver, BC, Canada
IRMA Steering Committee Member
Roy joined IRMA in 2006 after seeing a major gap in the realm of microbicide development – especially rectal microbicides.
He believes that at the heart of the matter lies a general global reluctance on the part of governments, politicians, medical practitioners, and the public to acknowledge the reality that anal sex is an issue that must be focused on when talking about STI/HIV prevention. After years of neglect, Roy thinks that the time is ripe for the matter to be tackled in an open, honest way that will not only advance with development of a rectal microbicide, but address the stigma and discrimination associated with the issue as well.
Global affairs are a strong interest of Roy’s, specifically public health communications. He began his professional life as a journalist in Bombay, India where he was born and raised; spent 12 years in TV news at CNN International in the US; moved to public health communications at the World Health Organization in Beijing, China; and currently is Communications Director at the British Columbia Center for Disease Control in Vancouver, Canada.
In Roy’s free time he devours classical music (mostly opera), attempts to read some of the hundreds of books he’s collected, and spends as much time as possible with his amazingly supportive partner of 20+ years, Alan.
“Developing a rectal microbicide is a way of empowering our fellow human beings to act in a responsible, safe way to protect themselves and their loved ones.”
[Posted September 2009]
Gary Wolnitzek
Baltimore, Maryland, USA
“First and foremost, as a gay man, and one who works at an organization focused on the LGBT community, it is extremely important to me that we develop ways that gay and bisexual men can protect themselves from HIV (and other STIs). Secondly, as an HIV advocate I feel it is important to create a robust and full toolbox that helps to prevent HIV infection and helps those living with HIV. Rectal Microbicides need to be one of the tools at our disposal.”
Gary is an IRMA advocate from Baltimore, Maryland. He is currently the Director of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center of Baltimore (GLCCB). He loves conducting trainings in the community on a range of topics including advocacy planning, providing culturally competent care to the GLBT population and on topics related to new prevention technologies (NPT). He also enjoys spending time with friends at the pub, reading David Sedaris, watching “well-made” horror movies, and his cat, Aureliano.
Gary first became involved with IRMA while working at the Global Campaign for Microbicides (GCM). At this time he was well versed in preventative vaccine research and the research and trials surrounding vaginal microbicides, but he wasn’t as familiar with rectal microbicides. Shortly after starting at GCM he was introduced to people like Anna Forbes and Jim Pickett. He remembers a GCM meeting being co-hosted by the International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM) where this man kept chiming in with “What about rectal microbicides?!” Of course it was Jim, and Gary became inspired from that point on to learn more about rectal microbicides and involve himself with IRMA.
Gary tries to include vaginal and rectal microbicides in any talks he gives about HIV to the community. He believes knowledge is key, and a well informed base is necessary to move any work forward. He advises others doing HIV work to include microbicides in their agenda and points them to the IRMA website and blog for more information about them if needed. He also encourages IRMA members to become more involved on the listserv. He says that “by becoming more engaged in the conversations happening in this space then the more opportunities we have to gain new perspectives, find common ground on diverse issues, and develop new ideas.”
His advice for IRMA advocates combating stigma for their beliefs and work is to approach the individuals or organizations perpetuating the stigma with an open mind, listen to their arguments and opinions, and be prepared to create an informed and fact-based response. He hopes that this will bring about “some sort of common ground.” If this doesn’t work and the individual or organization is not willing to listen, he suggests reaching out to others that may be able to influence them- a method he calls “taking it to the streets!”
[Posted October 2011]
