WHY THE PrEP AND PEP DRUGS ONLY MEAN MORE UNPROTECTED SEX –

NAME: UMBUKAH TITUS MBOYA

REG: CJMS-01-0312/2018

WHY THE PrEP AND PEP DRUGS ONLY MEAN MORE UNPROTECTED SEX – By Titus Mboya

There was jubilation all over upon the release of these drugs to the market, for our case, the local dailies made it clear that the steps that seemed futile towards curbing the spread of this menace were now progressive. The celebration were all over and if you cannot attest, well, the internet is my witness here, But again, why would you celebrate when it was only a game changer in HIV prevention? That makes it comprehensible that the infected had no reason to smile which only mean hurrays were from the HIV-free individuals. “These drugs are a ‘cure’ to HIV/AIDS,” that is how some headlines and titles read. Who would not want a cure to this peril? Even if it was a prank, the inclusion of HIV/AIDS and cure in a statement with no negatives sounds positive to one especially to the infected. The PrEP and PEP were the drugs that had such great reception. With diverse people terming it as a cure while others not having a clue about it. The infected were misled while the HIV-free people were jubilant with reasons best known to them. Before I proceed, here is a little background about the drugs.

The Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis are abbreviated as PrEP and PEP respectively. The former drug (PrEP) is a HIV prevention strategy for HIV-free individuals (HIV NEGATIVE) where they take medication before contact with the HIV Virus to protect them from infection while the latter drug (PEP) is as well a HIV prevention strategy for HIV-NEGATIVE people but the medication is taken after coming into contact with the HIV Virus for protection against infection. It is evident that the two drugs above are only meant for HIV-NEGATIVE people. Does that ring a bell?

The PrEP drug is a daily dose that reaches its high levels of protection against the virus after at least seven days of the dose and it is so effective that it can reduce HIV Infection nearly to zero. On the other hand, the PEP drug has to be taken within 72 hours after a possible exposure to the virus after which a prescription follows for 28 days, once or twice a day. These two drugs are categorically stated  that they are effective if taken consistently but again they are not 100% effective neither do they protect one against other sexual transmitted infections (STIs), pregnancy nor are a CURE for HIV/AIDS.

The PrEP drug has shown to reduce one from the risk of HIV infection by over 90% through unprotected sex with regards to the frequency of taking the drugs as the levels of HIV infection protection may decrease if a dose is skipped i.e. One who takes the pills daily has a higher percentage in protection as compared to one who does not take the medication regularly (daily). Well, apart from the first 7 days of PrEP medication before the drug hits up the expected protection levels, one is expected to continue with the medication for 4 weeks before stopping after exposure to the virus whereas PEP drug should be taken only in emergency situations.

The only medication that has been approved for PrEP is TRUVADA. It was approved in 2012 and it is a combination of two medicines. TRUVADA works in a way by blocking an enzyme that helps in production of more HIV viruses in the body.

With all the information above, the HIV-NEGATIVE are well covered. Immorality will turn on a new leaf in escalation. There will be no setbacks such one being dubious of their mates. The issue of disclosing your HIV status before sex or going for tests will be a narrative long lost now that the drugs reduces the risk in infection through unprotected sex by over 90%. The infected will also get their way after a long while for being stigmatized and denied it. No precautions or limits. Promiscuity will prevail.

Upon the introduction of use of condoms as way of protection from the virus, it was all over that sex was no longer ‘sweet’. People feared the disease than pregnancy. Use of condoms to reduce unwanted pregnancies became secondary. A good number will not use them, besides abortion is an option. When conventional thinking will drive you to say that people also fear STIs, you will be surprised because in this generation as long as it is treatable, I can risk. No one will care who they have sex with (a good time for business for the sex workers). Very few will keep their pants intact.

In as much as many contracted the virus when they used condoms as some of them broke during intercourse, you will agree with me that a good number kept escaping the virus by using them. Similarly, the PrEP and PEP drugs will save a lot but also some will contract the disease even after using the drugs as 100% effectiveness is not guaranteed.

If you are merry about the two saviors, PrEP and PEP, during this times, personally, I would equate them to condoms. They not only reduce the risk of the infection but also provide more ways of having multiple sex partners and Aluta continua…