Kenya rolls out PreP Drugs to fight HIV amid uncertainties

Kenya launched the use of the Pre-Exposure Prophylactic drugs as one of the ways to reduce the spread of the disease among the married and unmarried people.

According to a statement from the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention website, the drugs which are also known as the PrePs present a new approach to fighting the perennial disease.

“The goal of PrEP is to prevent HIV infection from taking hold if you are exposed to the virus. This is done by taking a pill that contains two HIV medications every day. These are the same medicines used to stop the virus from growing in people who are already infected.” A statement from CDC reads in part.

It is on this premise that the Kenyan government has decided to use PreP as one of the bets for mitigating the problem. Given the elusiveness of the cure, the World Health Organization rates HIV/AIDS as the leading cause of death in Kenya.

Another study by the National AIDS and STI Control Programme states that two million people get infected with the virus every year globally. In Kenya, close to 100, 000 get infected every year and a majority of them being 15 years and above, the study adds.

As Kenya adopts the use of the PreP drugs to cut down on the infection rates, explanations from top health research organizations such as CDC and NASCOP indicates numerous details that potential users may be oblivious about. Statements from CDC reveals the following about PreP drugs.

The known about PreP Drugs

• PreP Drugs are taken by HIV-negative persons in anticipation of an exposure to the virus.

• PreP Drugs are not vaccines against HIV virus. They only protect the users after taking for at least 5 to 7 days prior to the event leading to the exposure of the virus. As opposed to the vaccines that are injected once and provide protection for a longer period without any further injections, PreP only work for users that use the consistently before the exposure.

• PrePs are not to be used by anyone. CDC indicates that it is a drug that is meant for protecting only the users considered vulnerable.


• It is only used before exposure event. Contrary to the Post Exposure Prophylaxis that is used by the victims who have been exposed to the event, the PrePs are used prior and not after the event that is deemed risky.

• It used together with condoms. NASCOP indicates that PrePs only suppress the strength of HIV virus and has 92% success rate in lowering infection risk. But it does not provide protection against other venereal diseases like chlamydia, gonorrhea or syphilis.

The Unknown about the PreP drugs

• The research studies are yet to clarify as to whether the prolonged use of the PrePs would have adverse health problems.

• The health facilities that will be distributing the drugs have not been revealed properly and the criteria for identifying those who are eligible for the drugs.

• Kenyans are yet to know whether the PreP drugs will affordable to the low-income earners or not.