For years, daily pills have been the main option for pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, to help people at risk avoid HIV infection. In this podcast episode, epidemiologist Nqobile Ngoma, a clinical research fellow at the Africa Health Research Institute in KwaZulu-Natal, explores the renewed HIV prevention injection.
She explains that the long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA) is part of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and if taken before exposure, it reduces the risk of acquiring HIV.
“PrEP has always been there. I understand that everyone knows about it, especially the pill because people are on it. So this is one of the options under PrEP. I believe it’s one of the huge milestones the scientific community has come up with. It’s usually an antiviral medication; it is not a stand-alone measure, but CAB-LA is just part of the comprehensive approach to HIV prevention,” she says.
Reducing HIV infections
Ngoma points out that to get it, indications include that you must be HIV-negative, sexually active, and therefore at risk of acquiring HIV. She adds that it is administered every eight weeks or every two months, and as with any other drug or any other pill or injection, there are some potential side effects.
“The common side effects are injection side reactions like any other injection, where people complain of pain, swelling, or redness. Also, the flu-like symptoms after you’ve gotten any other injection could include headaches, nausea, diarrhoea, and tiredness. Those are the side effects that have been reported thus far.”
Ngoma shares that the World Health Organisation has the goal of reducing new HIV infections from 2022 to 2023, thus everyone needs to work together to achieve this goal.
“For us to see a decline, each one of us has a part to play. So young people should be supported to make these informed decisions through effective person-centred care to make use of these available options and remain HIV-free because we are talking about an HIV-free generation and we cannot wait to get to that point.”
In this episode, Ngoma also discusses:
- The injection is not an isolated tool; rather, it’s part of the package.
- Staying HIV-free.
- For those who are HIV positive, do not transmit it to others.
Listen to the full interview on the Health For Mzansi podcast:
Spotify: Click here to listen on Spotify (all mobile and other devices).
Apple Podcasts: Click here to listen on any Apple device.
Google Podcasts: Click here to listen on Google Podcast.
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