The government is set to launch the use of injectable Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in January of next year as part of its efforts to reduce HIV infections. This development was announced by the Uganda Aids Commission (UAC) during a press briefing held on Monday at the Uganda Media Center.
The introduction of this injectable PrEP is seen as an effective, safe, and more user-friendly approach to disease prevention compared to existing options.
Dr. Daniel Byamukama, the Head of HIV Prevention at the UAC, explained that orders for injectable Pre-exposure prophylaxis, a medication designed to prevent HIV transmission, have already been placed through the global fund. By the end of this year, they anticipate receiving approval from the National Drug Authority.
The injectable PrEP involves taking an injection every two months, offering a highly effective means of preventing HIV transmission for those who are HIV-negative. Dr. Byamukama noted, “If you are HIV negative, you will not contract HIV.”
In the initial year of implementation, the government aims to target 10,000 individuals, with plans to increase this number by an additional 10,000 in subsequent years.
Dr. Byamukama explained that if the demand is substantial, they are committed to making the injectable PrEP widely available, although specific criteria for selecting the first beneficiaries have not been outlined at this time.
Just last year, Uganda lost 17,000 lives to HIV/AIDS. According to global HIV/AIDS statistics, Uganda saw 1.3 million new HIV infections in 2022.