A new service to provide HIV prevention pills to high-risk groups was launched yesterday in Hà Nội. — Photo baotintuc.vn

HÀ NỘI – A new service to provide HIV prevention pills to high-risk groups was launched yesterday in Hà Nội.

The pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) services for HIV prevention, which was supported by the Ministry of Health, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, will initially be provided at Đống Đa District Health Center, Long Biên Health Center and the Hà Nội Medical University. More health center will be able to provide such service in Hà Nội in the future.

PrEP is a way for people who do not have HIV but are at substantial risk of contracting it, to prevent HIV infection by taking a pill every day, as part of a combination HIV prevention strategy. If someone who is on PrEP is exposed to HIV, the medication can work to keep the virus from establishing a permanent infection. PrEP is extremely effective when taken correctly, and can reduce the risk of HIV infection by 92 percent or more.

The national programme for pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV was approved by the health ministry last year.

PrEP services would be provided in 11 provinces by 2020, including  Hà Nội, Hải Phòng, Thái Nguyên, Quảng Ninh, Bình Dương, Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu, Long An, thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Đồng Nai, Tây Ninh và Tiền Giang. It aims to get 7,300 registrants.--VNS