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SPOTLIGHT:

What are Multipurpose Prevention Technologies (MPTs)?

Multipurpose prevention technologies (MPTs), also referred to as “combinations” or “dual” technologies are designed to address multiple sexual and reproductive health needs, including prevention of unplanned pregnancy; prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV; and/or prevention of other reproductive tract infections (RTIs), such as bacterial vaginosis or urinary tract infections. MPTs that are acceptable, affordable, and widely available would greatly improve health and save resources.

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About CAMI

What We Do

CAMI's work focuses on Convenings, Research, Public Education, and Policy Maker Education.

Convenings: CAMI brings together groups to share information around issues related to innovative prevention methods to enhance sexual and reproductive health (SRH).   CAMI has developed a network of organizations that participate regularly in CAMI activities, and rely on us for the latest news on SRH prevention technology development. CAMI organized and Chaired the first international Advancing Prevention Technologies for Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy Symposium in March 2009 in which nearly 150 experts participated representing 10 different countries.

An outcome of the Symposium was the evolution of the new USAID funded Initiative for Multipurpose Prevention Technologies (IMPT) for Sexual and Reproductive Health. The mission of IMPT is to accelerate the development of, and access to, multi-purpose technologies and strategies that simultaneously prevent unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections including HIV, and other reproductive tract infections.

Research: With support from public and private entities, CAMI conducts social science, epidemiolgical and behavioral research including market and acceptability studies as well as cost-effectiveness studies. Through our research and collaborations, we encourage a cross disciplinary approach to advance prevention technologies for reproductive health. Recent research collaborations include those with the School of Engineering at UCBerkeley, the School of Public Health at UCBerkeley, the Stern School of Business, Harvard University, and biotech firms.

Public Education: CAMI has conducted over two dozen microbicide educational trainings, regional update meetings, and forums statewide. CAMI is also engaged in improving health literacy in the area of SRH prevention. We have published the SISTER to SISTER Sex Talk novellas, one novella targeting urban adolescents (in English) and another targeting new immigrant Latina adolescent (in Spanish). These are distributed to health clinics and available through the California AIDS Clearinghouse. CAMI also produces Horizons, the CAMI newsletter.

Policy Maker Education: CAMI secured the support of several public policy initiatives supporting microbicide development on the state and federal level, including the unanimous, bipartisan support of SJR22 by the California State Legislature. We are also a member of the California Coalition for Reproductive Freedom that works to educate policy makers about a variety of reproductive rights issues.

Over the years we have been supported by the following: Mary Wohlford Foundation, Alliance for Microbicide Development, California Women's Foundation, CONRAD, International Partnership for Microbicides, OSEL, Inc., Population Council, PATH, Sierra Health Foundation, US Agency for International Development, Venture Strategies for Health and Development, World Health Organization.