PH receives 20,000 bottles of medicines vs HIV
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government, through the Department of Health, received 20,000 bottles of HIV prevention drugs, or preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) on Friday.
The pills were donated by the United States government, through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (Pepfar).
The handover ceremony at the Quezon City Hall on Friday coincided with the formal launch of the P500-million ($10.3-million) Usaid-Pepfar program in the Philippines, the US Embassy in Manila said in a statement.
PrEP pills, known by its brand name Truvada in the Philippines, help prevent HIV-negative individuals who are at very high risk of contracting the disease.
When taken correctly, the drug works to prevent virus infection should an individual be exposed to HIV through sex or injection drug use. While PrEP is commonly used by men who have sex with men, it can be used by everyone.
“We know that the use of PrEP works effectively to prevent HIV transmission and including this in our coordinated HIV response will spell the difference in our fight against HIV,” said Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.
