Lusaka has 25,000 people on long acting HIV prevention programme
By Honester Mshoka
Twenty-five thousand people in Lusaka province have been put on a long acting HIV prevention programme known as pre-exposure prophylaxis –PrEP.
PrEP is a way for people who do not have HIV but are at substantial risk of getting it to prevent the infection by taking a pill everyday or an injection once monthly for the first two months and then once every two months.
Lusaka Province Health Director SIMULYAMANA CHOONGA says most of the people on the programme since October last year are discordant couples.
Speaking to ZNBC news in an interview, Dr. CHOONGA said it is important for citizens to know that PrEP is meant for everyone who is HIV negative and is at risk of being infected with the virus that causes AIDS.
He said PrEP is effective and the country has enough doses in most health facilities.
Dr. CHOONGA said it is also important for expectant mothers to be on the programme in order to prevent their unborn babies from being infected.
