Daily Pills to Prevent HIV Might Be Replaced by Monthly Dose in the Future
- A study being carried out in Sub-Saharan Africa will be testing a new drug that could replace the daily pills used to prevent HIV infection
- The new pill would only have to be taken once a month and could change the way HIV prevention is perceived
- The trial is being run by the University of Washington after it received a R1.7 billion grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
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A trial being conducted in South Africa is set to test a new type of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). The pill would help protect women from being infected with HIV and would require a monthly dose.
Currently, the same medication has to be taken daily. The University of Washington will lead the trial after receiving a R1.7 billion grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation according to TimesLIVE.
Source: Getty Images
The new drug will be tested in Sub-Saharan Africa
The drug in question is called islatravir and will be tested on women in seven Sub-Saharan African countries according to Newswise.
The current research indicates that the drug is highly effective and will be administered to women over the age of 18 but this would be lowered to 16 once it has been deemed safe following the trial.
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Zodwa Wabantu encourages the use of ARVs to treat HIV
Say what you want about Zodwa Wabantu but she does do some uplifting things for the community from time to time.
The media personality recently embarked on a campaign to end the stigma associated with taking ARVs and HIV/Aids in the most Zodwa way possible.
The controversial dancer posted a video of herself dancing with friends. She then ‘accidentally’ dropped her bag and ARV pills spilt on the floor. The reactions from those around were shocked while some expressed amusement.
HIV positive nurse reveals how she's been protecting her husband
A South African woman living with HIV has taken to social media to reveal how she has been keeping her husband safe from the virus.
Angela Motsusi, who is a nurse, said HIV patients who take their ARVs daily, attend all clinic appointments and do blood checks as scheduled are safe of have sex with a negative partner.
The health worker wrote on her Facebook page:
“Living testimonies of #UequalsU, it’s simple really, if you are HIV-positive, take your ARVs daily and attend all your clinic appointments and do blood checks as scheduled, by taking your treatment everyday you will be virally suppressed and with a sustained, suppressed viral load you CANNOT sexually transmit HIV to your partner, I am positive and he is negative."
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Source: Briefly News
