Question NW918 to the Minister of Health
21 April 2022 - NW918
Chirwa, Ms NN to ask the Minister of Health
What is the current accessibility status of (a) post-exposure prophylaxis and (b) pre-exposure prophylaxis for women and girls between the ages of 15 to 25?
Reply:
(a) The Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) is available in all 3,465 public health facilities (Primary health Care and Community Health Care facilities) and 54 Thuthuzela Care Centres (TCC) countrywide. These services are available for everyone who may have been exposed to HIV within 72 hours of exposure, however, those who are exposed through sexual assault and are eligible, are offered PEP at an entry point then referred to the TCCs for further management.
Out of the 37 441 sexual assault cases seen in the current financial year, 21,026 were offered PEP through the following eligibility criteria:
Eligibility criteria:
• PEP must be given to persons with a negative HIV status (Meaning an HIV test must be conducted);
• Must be given within the first 72 hours of exposure.
The Post-Exposure Prophylaxis is not disaggregated by age and gender.
(b) Oral pre-exposure prophylaxis is currently provided at 2,700 facilities (including 2,224 public PHC facilities). Since 2016, a total of 450,606 individuals (males and females of all ages) were initiated of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis.
During the period 1 April 2020 to 31 December 2021, 161,910 persons, males and females, ages 15-24 years were initiated of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis of which 140,837 were females.
END.