By Alice Mudzingwa
MEDECINS Sans Frontieres also known as Doctors Without Borders (MSF), is preparing for the rollout of a ground-breaking injectable HIV prevention in Zimbabwe.
Cabotegravir Long – Acting (CAB-LA) is an HIV prevention in injectable form.
Many clients on the injectable prefer it to the oral pre- exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) as it is discreet. Pill fatigue is also noted by many of those opting for the injectable, CAB-LA.
According to Dr Gerald Hangaika, MSF Medical Doctor for Adolescents and Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights, CAB –LA will be a game- changer as it addresses adherence challenges.
“The rollout of CAB-LA is expected to begin mid next year with providers to make the treatment affordable and accessible to everyone. The availability and affordability of the injection will offer a better level of protection than oral PrEP,” said Dr Hangaika.
Dr Hangaika was interacting with members of the media at a Science Café organised by the Health Communicators Platform recently.
Speaking at the same event, Ministry of Health and Child Care, an officer in the AIDS and TB department, Dr Idah Moyo urged Zimbabweans to continue using the already existing safety tools despite taking PrEP, to curb the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies.
“PrEP only works to prevent one from contracting HIV not STIs or pregnancy. PrEP does not protect anyone from contracting STIs and getting pregnant. It is an addition to the already existing packages and it should be used alongside other prevention methods like condoms,” said Moyo.
Dr Moyo urged people to seek medical help first before taking PrEP as they are procedures to be taken before one is given PrEP.
“It is important to get the pills from medical facilities. There are different types of PrEP which are the Post exposure prophylaxis (PEP), Pre exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and Cabotegravir (CAB- LA) and they are administered after a certain process. Your status and situations determines the PREP you need though there is a room to choose,” said Moyo.
Asked why PrEP was not available from pharmacies, Dr Moyo stressed the need to have trained staff especially for PrEP.
“The clinic or hospital has staff trained to screen a client to see if one is suitable. An HIV test is first offered. If one is found to be HIV positive, then one is counselled and commended on Anti-retroviral therapy (ART). Only HIV negative clients with known comorbidities are eligible for PrEP. One’s history is important too. Is one able to visit he facility after every two months? If one is highly mobile to miss the dates, then PrEP is not offered. So pharmacies cannot offer PrEP. CAB-LA is given by trained staff as an injectable,” said Dr Moyo.
Dr Moyo said PrEP is pre-exposure meant for people who are HIV negative but are at risk of getting it and one can cycle in and out.
“For example, one has a husband in South Africa, as the festive season beckons, one can take oral PrEP to prevent possible infection, if the husband goes back to South Africa, the spouse can stop if they abstain,” explained Dr Moyo.
