HIV pill now available

An anti-HIV medication called pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, which can significantly reduce the risk of HIV infection, is now locally available. According to a specialist medical consultant of infectious diseases in South Africa, Dr Kevin Rebe, who yesterday facilitated a media seminar, the medication is 92-100% effective in preventing HIV infection. “PrEP is an evidence-based and highly effective HIV prevention tool that complements current treatment programmes and 90-90-90 initiatives,” Rebe argues. The seminar follows the launch of pilot runs by the Society for Family Health (SFH) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Social Services, Walvis Bay Corridor Group, Intrahealth International and the Namibia Planned Parenthood Association (NAPPA). Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, is a way for people who do not have HIV but who are at substantial risk of getting it to prevent HIV infection by taking a pill every day. According to Rebe, PrEP offers an active referral pathway for HIV negative patients and increases testing and recurrent testing. “This allows for the referral of positives quickly into care. PrEP also supports the identification and treatment of STIs and therefore prevents new infections which eventually reduce future burden on ART programmes,” he said. According to SFH country director, Taimi Amaambo, the drug is currently available in Walvis Bay at the Walvis Bay Corridor Group clinic and the Nappa clinic in Windhoek. The drug is also available at Onandjoke, Omuthiya, Tsumeb, Odobe and Oshikuku. “In two weeks' time we are launching it in Oshikango targeting key populations, but we are not turning anyone away. The drug is free of charge, even if we have targeted groups anyone that is interested can access it through these points currently,” she said. The drug has been available at the WBCG clinic for than a month while Nappa started offering it last Friday. The project will be guided by the Namibian antiretroviral therapy (ART) guidelines. According to Amaambo, the outcomes from this project are designed to provide the the ministry with data that can inform future PrEP rollout in the public sector. Sarah Thomas from the health ministry's special programmes directorate pointed out that the government's plan to implement PrEP interventions at state facilities was at a very early stage. According to her, it will likely be rolled out through the existing family planning and ante-natal care programmes in the ministry. “We are currently working on the guidelines and modalities on how to roll it out in the public sector. Health workers need to be sensitised on how to provide these services in a sensitive manner,” she said. PrEP can be taken during specific periods of risk and does not need to be continued for the rest of a person's life. JEMIMA BEUKES

HIV pill now available

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-17

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HIV pill now available

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-17

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