National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has announced that Nigeria will soon commence the use of Pre – Exposure Prophylaxis, PrEP for prevention of HIV infection among couples.
Director General, NACA, Prof John Idoko who made this announcement said the Agency would soon commence the processes through a study at three selected sites in Nnewi, Anambra State; Calabar, Cross River State, and Jos, Plateau State.
He said “Pre-Exposure prophylaxis or PrEP is a procedure for people who do not have HIV but who are at substantial risk of contracting the virus to prevent HIV infection by taking a pill with a brand name Truvada which contains two medicines every day to treat HIV.’’
He further explained that the study is expected to provide an avenue to understand the use of prophylaxis/treatment for long-term prevention of HIV infection for a zero-discordant couple in which the infected partner is at elevated risk.
He added that previous studies have shown that after six months, anti- retroviral therapy reduces HIV-1 concentrations to undetectable levels in the blood plasma and the genital compartments.