NHVMAS educates journalists on New Prevention Technologies against HIV

The New HIV Vaccine and Microbicides Advocacy Society (NHVMAS), conducted a 3- days awareness and sensitisation campaign on New Prevention Technologies against HIV for some journalists in health rapporteur in Lagos state.

The programme was held at NHVMAS office in Ojodu Berger, Lagos from 21st to 23rd November, 2023.

The education awareness centered mainly on Pre-exposure prophylaxis popularly known as PrEP which according to one of the facilitators, Richard Benson includes but not limited to oral PrEP, Long Acting Injectable PrEP and Dapivirine vaginal ring.

Benson said that, “PrEP provides a way for people who do not have HIV to protect themselves from getting HIV. PrEP uses antiretroviral medications (ARVs) drug created to treat people living with HIV for HIV prevention. The efficacy of PrEP is higher when used correctly and consistently he reiterated.

“The oral PrEP is used for seven days before exposure to unprotected sex for men while women use it for 28 days before exposure. He added that one need to be on it as long as he or she is at risk or within the risk population.”

Who should use PrEP?

PrEP is targeted at people that have substantial risk of acquiring HIV infection which includes Men who have sex with men (MSM), Transgender individuals’ Heterosexual women and men: serodiscordant couples (either of the partner is positive while the other is negative), Female sex workers (FSW), Sexually active adolescents.

NHVMAS advocates that beyond couples in serodiscordant relationships that adolescents should be prioritized for access to PrEP.

The anatomy of the female adolescent increases her risk of HIV infection. Also teenage pregnancy is high and the risk of HIV infection increases 2 to 3 times during pregnancy and about 4 times six months postpartum.

“These figures highlights the need to counsel female adolescents with high HIV risk behaviours such as early sexual debut, multiple sex partners, transactional sex, having sex partners who are 10 years or more older than her on the need for dual protection,” Benson said.

The Executive Director of NHVMAS, Florita Durueke said that apart from oral PrEP that other forms of PrEP exists. For example Dapivirine vaginal ring is already in use in South Africa and Botswana she reiterated.

“Dapivirine vaginal ring is a topical PrEP delivered as intravaginal ring which can reduce HIV incidence among women when used with high adherence

“The ring is safe and easy to insert inside a woman’s private part and it is changed every 2 months and offers high level of privacy.”

Durueke opined that there is the need to introduce Dapivirine vaginal ring in Nigeria.

The New HIV Vaccine and Microbicides Advocacy Society (NHVMAS) was formed in 2003 as civil society response to ensure the proactive participation of Nigeria and Nigerians in global efforts for the development of HIV vaccine and Microbicides .

The objective of the organisation is to promote public understanding and support for the participation of Nigeria in the international biomedical HIV prevention research and development efforts.

Promotes early involvement of Nigeria in biomedical HIV prevention studies relevant to her HIV/AIDS control efforts.

Ensure access by all Nigerians to a safe, effective and affordable HIV prevention tools when developed.