Panama has a treatment to prevent HIV, a pill that is taken before having sex and can prevent infection by 99%. Dr. Carlos Chávez, head of the section of Sexually Transmitted Infections HIV/AIDS, of the Minsa spoke about it.
It is a pre-exposure prophylaxis treatment that is provided in the 17 friendly clinics attended by the Ministry of Health (Minsa).
He stressed that currently about 1000 people are receiving this therapy that is reinforced with the use of condoms for combined prevention.
The use of this pill is relatively easy, according to Chavez it should be taken 2 hours before sexual intercourse and after intercourse it should be taken for two additional days.
He specified that anyone can have access to this medicine, however it is being prioritized for the most vulnerable groups such as those who have a partner with HIV and who want to reduce the risk of contagion, it is also distributed to men who have sex with others men, trans women and sex workers, as they are the population at greatest risk of contracting the disease.
Chavez reiterated that treatment for people with HIV is completely free, since the country invests about 18,000 dollars a year to cover the care and treatment of patients with this disease.
Chávez reported that in Panama, 22,000 people living with HIV have been captured so far, for the first half of 2022 there are 679 people already diagnosed with HIV.
“In comparison, with the same period last year, the first half of 2021, we found around 1,194 people, with a reduction of 40%,” reported Chávez.
This reduction can occur for different reasons: it may be that people are taking the appropriate prevention measures and teaching activities carried out by the Minsa so that people have greater access to treatment and prevention as such.
He added that the most affected age groups are 20 to 49 years affected women. A higher prevalence has been found among men than women.
It should be noted that members of Civil Society held a forum on HIV, where the General Director of Public Health, Melva Cruz, reported that the Minsa is pleased with all those organized groups, which have presented positive responses to HIV, Tuberculosis and Covid- 19.
“All this work is done in order to have a human rights approach, to achieve comprehensive access to health, a more comprehensive approach, without stigma and without discrimination,” Cruz said.
He pointed out about medications for patients diagnosed with HIV, that the Minsa is attentive to keeping them up to date and available to the population that requires it.
