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The not so famous HIV prevention method

It not a secret that South Africa has the highest number of HIV/Aids infection in the world with 5.6 million people living with HIV, and 270 000 HIV related deaths recorded in 2011 in a study provided by Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids.

Though the treatment for HIV is working wonders, it is no cure and people are still dying and it a big concern to our health system.

However, there might be a miracle to stop the spread of HIV. PrEP system has been adopted in most countries dealing with HIV/Aids and in South Africa.

PrEP stands for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis. It is a way for people who do not have HIV but are at high risk of contracting the virus to prevent HIV infection by taking a pill every day. The pill contains two medicines that are also used to treat the virus.

Along with other prevention methods like condoms, PrEP can offer good protection against HIV if taken every day.

Most people who are at high risk for contracting HIV have no idea that there is such prevention method besides condoms which some people believe that it makes sex less enjoyable.

Dr Iak Sheik, who is a family doctor, says that the reason why most people don’t know about the system is because it has not been advocated and with new systems there are always risks. They would rather recommend people stick to using condoms.

Not everyone is allowed to take PrEP.

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), recommends PrEP be considered for people who are HIV-negative and at substantial risk for HIV infection. This includes anyone who is in an ongoing relationship with an HIV-infected partner, gay or bisexual man who has had sex without a condom or been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection within the past six months, heterosexual man or woman who does not regularly use condoms when having sex with partners known to be at risk for HIV like injecting drug users or bisexual male partners of unknown HIV status.

“The only time that I would recommend PrEP is when a couple is trying to have a baby and one partner is HIV to lower the risks of infection,” Dr Sheik added.

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