Kenyan Prostitutes Using Anti-HIV Drugs Instead Of Condoms
on
Thursday, 21 November 2013
with
2 comments
You are here: Home » » Kenyan Prostitutes Using Anti-HIV Drugs Instead Of Condoms
In Kenya 1.5 million people are living
with HIV, and there are about 100,000
new infections every year. Despite this,
some sex workers are having unprotected
sex – and taking antiretroviral drugs
afterwards to cut the infection risk. How
reckless is this?
“Let me tell you the truth about why
many of us don’t use condoms,” says
Sheila who has been a prostitute in
Nairobi’s Korogocho slum for six years.
“We don’t have money, and when you
meet a client who offers to give you more
money than you usually get, you have sex
without protection even when you don’t
know his HIV status.”
Sheila says she and other prostitutes can
go to a clinic the next morning to get
emergency antiretrovirals – drugs which
suppress the virus, if taken within 72
hours of infection, and in many cases stop
its progression.
“We use this medicine like condoms,” she
says.
The type of antiretroviral in question is
known as post-exposure prophylaxis, or
PEP.
It is intended to be used in emergencies.
For example, it is given to victims of rape
if their attacker is thought to be HIV-
positive, or to medics who have been
pricked by a potentially infected needle.
There are no definitive figures to show
how well PEP works. It’s far better,
experts say, to prevent exposure the
virus in the first place, by using condoms.
Some clinics will only give clients one
course of PEP a year. They worry that if
they hand the drugs out too freely,
prostitutes will stop using condoms
altogether.
This hasn’t stopped 24-year-old sex
worker Pamela using PEP four times in
the past year.
“I had unprotected sex when I was very
drunk one night and the following
morning I didn’t go to the same clinic
where I got the first PEP tablets… I went
to a different clinic where they don’t have
my records, and lied that I was forced
into unprotected sex,” she says.
She didn’t finish the full course because
of the side-effects. “You feel bad, like
vomiting, dizziness, and generally you just
feel sick,” she says. “So I stopped taking
them.”
Peter Godfrey-Faussett, senior science
adviser with UNAIDS, says there is a place
for antiretrovirals among sex workers, but
only when used in the right way.
“We know that despite fairly high rates of
condom use in many sex-work
communities, we still have very high rates
of HIV so we need additional tools as well
as what’s already happening,” he says.
Category:
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
POST COMMENT
2 Comments:
My life is beautiful thanks to you, Mein Helfer. Lord Jesus in my life as a candle light in the darkness. You showed me the meaning of faith with your words. I know that even when I cried all day thinking about how to recover, you were not sleeping, you were dear to me. I contacted the herbal center Dr Itua, who lived in West Africa. A friend of mine here in Hamburg is also from Africa. She told me about African herbs but I was nervous. I am very afraid when it comes to Africa because I heard many terrible things about them because of my Christianity. god for direction, take a bold step and get in touch with him in the email and then move to WhatsApp, he asked me if I can come for treatment or I want a delivery, I told him I wanted to know him I buy ticket in 2 ways to Africa To meet Dr. Itua, I went there and I was speechless from the people I saw there. Patent, sick people. Itua is a god sent to the world, I told my pastor about what I am doing, Pastor Bill Scheer. We have a real battle beautifully with Spirit and Flesh. Adoration that same night. He prayed for me and asked me to lead. I spent 2 weeks and 2 days in Africa at Dr Itua Herbal Home. After the treatment, he asked me to meet his nurse for the HIV test when I did it. It was negative, I asked my friend to take me to another nearby hospital when I arrived, it was negative. I was overwhite with the result, but happy inside of me. We went with Dr. Itua, I thank him but I explain that I do not have enough to show him my appreciation, that he understands my situation, but I promise that he will testify about his good work. Thank God for my dear friend, Emma, I know I could be reading this now, I want to thank you. And many thanks to Dr. Itua Herbal Center. He gave me his calendar that I put on my wall in my house. Dr. Itua can also cure the following diseases ... Cancer, HIV, Herpes, Hepatitis B, Inflammatory Liver, Diabetis, Bladder Cancer,Colorectal Cancer,HPV,Breast Cancer,Kidney Cancer,Leukemia,Lun,Fribroid,Infertility,Parkinson's disease,Inflammatory bowel disease ,Fibromyalgia, recover your ex. You can contact him by email or whatsapp, @ .. drituaherbalcenter@gmail.com, phone number .. + 2348149277967 .. He is a good doctor, talk to him kindly. I'm sure he will also listen to you.
Dr Itua cure my HIV, I have been a ARV Consumption for 10 years. i have been in pains until i came across Dr Itua on blogs site.I emailed him about my details of my HIV and my location i explained every thing to him and he told me that there is nothing to be scared of that he will cured me, he gave me guarantee,He ask me to pay for items fees so when i'm cured I will show gratitude I did and giving testimony of his healing herbs is what I'm going to do for the rest of you out there having HIV and other disease can see the good work of Dr Itua.I received his herbal medicine through EMS Courier service who delivered to my post office within 5 working days.Dr Itua is an honest man and I appreciate him for his good work.My GrandMa called him to appreciate him and rest of my friends did too,Is a joy to me that I'm free of taking Pills and having that fat belle is a nightmare.you will understand what i'm talking about if you have same problem I was having then not now though.I'm free and healthy Big Thanks To Dr Itua Herbal Center.I have his calendar too that he recently sent me,He Cure all kind disease Like,Cancer,Herpes,Fibromyalgia,Hiv,Hepatitis B,Liver/Kidney Inflamatory,Epilepsy,Infertility,Fibroid,Diabetes,Dercum,Copd ,and also Bring back Ex Lover Back..Here his Contact .drituaherbalcenter@gmail.com Or Whats_app Number +2348149277967
Post a Comment