WHO eyes medicine to lower HIV risk

The World Health Organization (WHO) is considering providing people most at risk of acquiring human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) with a medicine that would lower their chances of getting infected with the disease.

Men having sex with men (MSM) and those engaged in transactional sex are among the sectors that could be eligible to use the Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) to combat HIV, said Dr. Gundo Weiler, WHO country representative in the Philippines.

PrEP is an HIV medicine that is the combination of “tenofovir and emtricitabine.” It must be taken daily in order to lower the chances of contracting HIV.

“We are facing a situation that is very alarming in terms of infections. So, we need to look into methods that are available to prevent infections from happening—traditional methods as well as innovative methods,” said Weiler at the recent press conference for World AIDS Day 2016.

“It is basically the use of PrEP by people who are not HIV positive. So, if they get exposed to HIV, such as rupturing of condoms, there is an additional layer of support versus the infection,” he said.

But he was quick to add that the WHO was not recommending the use of PrEP to all Filipinos worried of getting HIV.

“But it is really for people who are at higher risk and sexually active,” said Weiler.

Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial said the Department of Health (DOH) was looking into PrEP.

“We haven’t included that in our strategy but we’re looking into it… That’s one of the possible prevention. Of course we want prevention rather than cure, or rehabilitation,” she said.

Main mode of transmission

The MSM category remains the main mode of transmission of HIV, according to the latest HIV/AIDS Registry of the
Philippines (Harp) of the DOH.

Of the 38,114 HIV cases reported from January 1984 to October 2016, a total of 28,947 belonged to the male-having-sex-with-male category, thereby making it the predominant mode of transmission.

The figure included the 17,650 acquired through homosexual contacts, and 11,297 transmitted via bisexual contacts, according to HARP.

In July-October this year, 2,597 acquired HIV through MSM, including 1,650 homosexual contacts, and 947 bisexual contacts.

Also, during the four-month period, 331 cases were found to be transmitted with HIV through transactional sex, or paid sex.

The figure included 108 who accepted payment for sex; 168 who got paid for sex; and 55 who were engaged in both.

These brought to 3,371 the total number of individuals who acquired HIV through transactional sex from December 2012 to October 2016.