By Vanessa Nyambi
The world has come a long way in the fight against the HIV and Aids pandemic. In the year 2000, 5.3 million new infections were recorded. The mere mention of the disease which in that year alone claimed 3 million lives would send shivers down the spine.
Over the years science has brought several answers to make life better for the human race, first with the Anti-Retroviral, ARV drugs that have ensured people living with HIV & AIDS live longer and normal lives and now another drug has become available to significantly reduce transmission of the disease, the Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a course of HIV drugs taken by HIV-negative people to protect them against HIV infection is available in local health institutions.
National Aids Council Zvishavane District coordinator Dennis Jaravani spoke to Great Dyke News and detailed the use and availability of the anti-HIV drugs in PrEP which stop the virus replicating in your body.
Jaravani however highlighted that PrEP will not protect one against other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as hepatitis C, he urged people to make sure that along with PrePs they are also employ measures that prevent unwanted pregnancies and other sexually transmitted infections.
He highlighted situations where one is advised to take advantage of PreP which is not recommended to be used for life.
The 2020 National HIV Survey (ZIMPHIA 2020) results showed that the rate of annual new HIV infections among adults in Zimbabwe was at 0.38 percent or approximately 31,000 persons over a year. The prevalence of HIV among adults was 12.9 percent, which corresponds to approximately 1.23 million adults in Zimbabwe living with HIV in 2020.
