Chioma Umeha
A Non-Governmental Organisation, Centre for the
Right to Health has called for investment in new HIV prevention treatment, Pre-
exposure Prophylaxis, (PReP) as it helps in reducing HIV infection.
Speaking to journalists in Lagos during a two day
media training on biomedical HIV prevention in Nigeria, the Program Director of
the Centre, Mr Bede Eziefule said PReP
is a drug that HIV negative persons can take to prevent being positive
especially those that are sexually active, adding that it has been proven to be
90 percent effective when used correctly and consistently.
According to him, “as you might also know we are
at a cross road and interesting times in prevention of HIV infection. More and
more persons, especially young persons who constitute the bulk of persons are
getting infected daily with HIV are beginning to ask for more options to
protect themselves from contracting HIV.”
He said the media is an important force in shaping
socio-economic and political structures of the country, by extension amplifying
advocates voices on issues of health and healthcare in Nigeria as he called on
journalists to chart the course to the appropriate quarters.
Eziefule said for the private sector and the
society at large, stating that “every business man dream is to make profit but
what happens when major percent of his workers (sexually active) get infected
with the virus. There would be low production and the business might not move
as expected.
He however said that the private sector especially
the business men and women need to access PReP so as to help improve the health
of the workers, stating that, “these would also be beneficial if this sector
localizes PReP in their work place or create a special pool fund for HIV/AIDs
prevention and treatment.”
Lending his voice, Mr. William Rashidi, a Human
Right Activist for Bi-sexual and Gender Minority in Nigeria said these group of
people are vulnerable and susceptible to HIV, adding that the group are mainly
men who have sex with men, female sex workers, individuals who take drugs as
well as sexually active adolescents stand a high risk of HIV.
According to him, “those who are at high risk of
being infected with HIV, should use PReP in order not to become positive. PReP
is for those who are negative.”
On PReP availability, Rashidi said, “Nigeria has
just finished a PReP demonstration study to see how it will be received in the
country, the results are encouraging, however, it is not easily accessible in
the country right now, there are places in Lagos and Abuja where PReP treatment
can be accessed.”
He said PReP can be accessed through Institute for
Human Virology in partnership with International Centre For Advocacy on the
Right to Health in Abuja.
