For the first time, university and college students will be able to access the HIV prevention medication, Truvada. The Times reports that this was announced by the Higher Education and Training HIV & AIDS (HEAIDS) national programme.
Truvada is an antiretroviral pill that reduces the risk of contracting HIV‚ by at least 90% if taken daily. HIV negative students at seven universities will be able to access the medication from approved campus health clinics. The universities are Nelson Mandela University‚ Rhodes University‚ University of Limpopo‚ University of the Free State‚ University of Venda‚ University of Zululand and Vaal University of Technology.
The report says the roll out is actually a trial that will give the National Health Department information about whether there is a demand for such preventive treatment and if people will use it.
Truvada has been rolled out in South Africa at pilot clinics for gay and bisexual men and to some HIV negative sex workers‚ but has not been made available to young people before. Young women aged between 15 and 25 are the most at risk of contracting HIV in South Africa‚ according to data from the Human Sciences Research Council.
Director of HEAIDS Dr Ramneek Ahluwalia said in the report: “In these age groups rates of transactional sex are very high‚ and condom uptake is low‚ which is why they are good candidates for the roll out." He said many young women at universities were involved in "transactional sex‚ prostitution or used alcohol or drugs putting them at high risk of HIV". Some of HEAIDS studies indicated 14% of university and college students were involved in "transactional" sex for money or goods‚ he said. The numbers of people who will be given the treatment are not known yet‚ said Ahluwalia‚ as they need to educate people to create demand for the prevention. Ahluwalia said: "The aim is that any young student in these universities who feels they are at risk of HIV would be able to access the drug."
Numerous studies with Truvada and preventative vaginal gels involving thousands of women have failed in South Africa and other SADC countries because they weren't used. This includes trials named FACTS and VOICE
The report says this roll out of Truvada to university students is a trial that will give "real world" data if people are interested in prevention and take it daily‚ explained Ahluwalia. Students will be given counselling and medical tests required before starting the treatment. They must be HIV negative‚ as this ARV cannot be taken if positive. There will be a lot of education to have vulnerable people at high risk of HIV learn about the treatment‚ explained Ahluwalia.
The report says Truvada is known as PrEP Exposure Prophylaxis. “PrEP has enormous potential to spare thousands of young South Africans from the HIV epidemic‚ but only if it is used properly‚ consistently and responsibly. That is why we are working closely with universities‚ the Department of Health and the clinics to ensure students are properly informed on how PrEP works‚ and what is required for it to remain effective‚” said Ahluwalia.
Right to Care, with the support of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria is rolling out PrEP at three sites in Gauteng and one in the Western Cape, targeting those at high risk for HIV exposure particularly men who have sex with men and transgender people. It is also expanding PrEP into another five provinces. PrEP is the use of antiretroviral drugs by HIV-negative people before potential exposure to prevent the acquisition of HIV.
Edward Sibanda, programme coordinator for the Global Fund Programme at Right to Care says, “PrEP is a significant development in the fight against HIV and AIDS and has been effectively used in several countries. PrEP does not prevent other sexually transmitted infections and it is vital that PrEP is used in conjunction with other prevention methods such as condoms and lubricants. Using condoms is still the best way to prevent HIV infection as they also help protect against STIs and pregnancy when correctly used.”
Sibanda explains that Right to Care is focused on implementing PrEP in the broader context of the health spectrum that provides screening, testing, counselling, prevention and treatment services for HIV.
“Other vulnerable people who are at risk will also benefit from using PrEP. These could be sex workers, someone who knows their partner is having sex with other people outside of the relationship and people who are HIV negative and engaging in sex with people who are HIV positive.”
Having an HIV test is the first step for PrEP. “Patients are tested and if they are HIV negative they are tested again after 40 days. Only then are they eligible for PrEP,” says Sibanda.
PrEP is a pill that contains 200g of emtrici-tabine and 300mg of tenofovir. It takes a minimum of seven days to offer full protection and it must be taken daily. Most people can safely use PrEP but a healthcare provider will need to determine if there is any reason why someone should not take it.
Right to Care’s implementing partner in Johannesburg is the Anova Health Institute at the Yeoville Health4Men Clinic, corner of Hopkins and Kenmere Roads. The implementing partner in Pretoria is OUT Wellness at 1081 Pretorius Street, Hatfield. In Cape Town, Right to Care is working with the Ivan Toms Clinic, corner of Umbashe and Nkqaubekani Streets, Mfuleni Extension 6, Eerste River.
PrEP does not cure HIV and should never be taken by HIV positive people. Sibanda explains, “People who are HIV positive need a combination of three antiretroviral drugs. Antiretroviral therapy reduces the levels of HIV in their body. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is also a combination of antiretroviral drugs which are used when a person may have been exposed to HIV but must be taken within 72 hours after exposure and maintained for 28 days.”
[link url="https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2017-09-26-hiv-prevention-pills-now-available-to-university-students/"]The Times report[/link]