Rio continues until Sunday with campaign to combat HIV – News

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The Coordination of Sexual Diversity of the Municipality of Rio de Janeiro continues, until the 26th, the campaign Rio – Carnival with Prevention, which consists of the free distribution of internal and external condoms, informational material on prevention and informational displays on PrEP and PEP . Since the beginning of Carnival, on Friday (17th), the campaign has distributed 284,800 condoms, 244,800 of which are external and 40,000 are internal.

PrEP

Pre-exposure prophylaxis to HIV (PrEP) is a method of preventing infection by the virus that causes AIDS. It consists of taking a pill daily that reduces the risk of infection in case of possible contact with the HIV virus, which prepares the individual before having sexual intercourse. PrEP is a combination of two drugs (tenofovir + emtricitabine) that block some of the pathways that HIV uses to infect the body. “If you take PrEP daily, the medication can prevent HIV from taking hold and spreading in your body,” the campaign reports.

Men and women, cis or trans, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, can use PrEP. To find out how to start using this prophylaxis, the interested person should go to a health unit. After the exam, she will be instructed to receive the medication, which is delivered free of charge every three months.

PEP

PEP is an emergency prevention measure to be used in situations of risk of exposure to the HIV virus. It consists of the use of drugs or immunobiologicals to reduce the probability of acquiring this infection. It must be used after any situation where there is a risk of infection, such as: sexual violence; unprotected sexual intercourse, that is, without using a condom or breaking it; occupational accident (with sharp instruments or direct contact with biological material). PEP is offered free of charge by the Unified Health System (SUS) at municipal health posts.

PEP is a technology inserted in the set of combined prevention strategies, whose main objective is to expand the forms of intervention to meet the needs of each person or, even, the possibilities of inserting the preventive method in the person’s life.

These measures are aimed at preventing new infections, whether by HIV, hepatitis B or other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). They are considered a medical emergency and should be started as soon as possible, preferably within the first two hours after risk exposure and, at most, within 72 hours. Prophylaxis must be carried out for 28 days, and the person must be accompanied by a health team, even after this period, and undergo the necessary tests.

In the opinion of the coordinator of Sexual Diversity in Rio de Janeiro, Carlos Tufvesson, information is the best path to prevention. “PrEP is an important tool against HIV infection, with excellent results in several countries. With the technical note from the Ministry of Health, which also authorizes this medication for cis women, we have made great progress in the prevention policy in the country. It is proof that this prevention strategy is for everyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, ”he declared.

Tufvesson said the campaign explains the 3Ps of prevention: PEP, PrEP and condoms. “Not forgetting the importance of testing for every sexually active person. All you have to do is look for a health unit in the city of Rio”, said the coordinator.

For more information on where to find PrEP and PEP, visit Where to Be Served.

OMS

According to the Invivo portal, from the Museum of Life of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), HIV continues to be a major global public health problem. Estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO) for 2021 point to more than 38 million people in the world living with this virus. In Brazil, there are about 960 thousand individuals.

In the year 2021 alone, every hour, at least five Brazilians were infected with the HIV virus, which means, in practice, about 50,000 new cases in the country, according to the WHO.

Invivo is aimed at disseminating science, health and technology topics.

Story amended at 6:19 pm to update information on the number of condoms distributed.

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