The Ghana AIDS Commission has highlighted the availability of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), a preventive HIV medication designed to help people at higher risk of contracting the virus reduce their chances of infection.
Director of Technical Services at the Ghana AIDS Commission, Dr Fred Nana Poku, said PrEP is currently available in Ghana in tablet form and is intended for people who may face an increased risk of exposure to HIV.
He explained that PrEP is taken by HIV-negative people to help prevent them from acquiring the virus if they are exposed.
According to Dr Poku, PrEP forms part of Ghana’s broader HIV prevention strategy and is not a treatment for people already living with HIV.
He noted that PrEP can be administered in different forms, including injectable formulations, but the form currently available in Ghana is the tablet.
Dr Poku said the preventive medication is particularly important for people whose circumstances or sexual practices may expose them to a higher risk of HIV infection.
He mentioned sex workers and men who have sex with men among groups that may be considered for PrEP, while stressing that the intervention is not limited to those groups.
He explained that other Ghanaians who believe they may regularly engage in activities that could expose them to HIV can also seek professional advice on whether PrEP is appropriate for them.
Dr Poku urged people who may be at higher risk of HIV infection to seek guidance from qualified health professionals and make informed decisions about available prevention options.
He stressed that PrEP should be viewed as an additional tool in HIV prevention, alongside other measures aimed at reducing the spread of the virus.
The Ghana AIDS Commission’s emphasis on PrEP forms part of ongoing efforts to expand access to HIV prevention services and encourage people at increased risk of infection to take proactive steps to protect their health.
