Youth showing increased interest in HIV exposure drug as numbers increase

Young people in St Vincent and the Grenadines are showing increased interest in the drug which reduces the risk of contracting the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), as recorded cases in this age group increase in the country.

“We are now seeing a lot of young persons coming forward and testing positive. And that is the age group 17 to 25, we have seen a few cases of those. It is as if they have forgotten that this thing exists,” Infectious Disease Specialist, Dr Jose Davy said during an NBC Radio program to mark World AIDS Day on December 1.

Dr Davy highlighted a number of concerning trends related to the treatment of HIV/AIDS in SVG.

She disclosed that there are currently 430 persons in the country receiving anti retroviral therapy, but not all of these are being treated and later progress to AIDS due to lack of care.

“Persons may have tested, but do not come into care. When we get them they are severely ill and sometimes very sick and dying. In 2023, we shouldn’t really have these things happening. We have everything available for persons to be happy and healthy.”

The number of new cases being recorded annually in SVG was also a concern for the doctor, who said that even though SVG is classified as “low-burden”, the Caribbean still has the second highest HIV infection rate in the world – second only to Sub-Saharan Africa.

“Every year, we get at least, I would say around between late 20’s and maximum in the 50’s cases per year. Last year we had 54 cases, but generally it staggers around 35 cases per year.”

“We need these numbers to come down,” Dr Davy stressed.

PreP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, was first approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) in 2012 and is presently used around the world to guard persons against contracting the virus.

Here in SVG, the PreP program has not been rolled out as yet, as Dr Davy explained there has to be training of healthcare personnel and public outreach campaigns.

By February next year, she said the drug should be available for use, which would be welcomed by the younger demographic who have been showing increased interest in it.

“We have to train the professionals at the district level and community level. We don’t want persons to be doing things that in the end be not so helpful to them. All of that should be done by February, then we would be ready for a full roll out. There are persons who are quite interested, the younger persons especially have been asking a lot about it.”

PreP can be used prior to exposure through a regimen of two tablets on the day before the act, one tablet on the day of exposure and one tablet the day after. For persons who may be in relationship with a partner who is HIV-positive, PreP is taken daily.

The side-effects of the drugs, Dr Davy said can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and possible kidney damage.

While the youth may be front and centre when the program is rolled out, Dr Davy said the lack of knowledge about sexual health in this age group is concerning.

“Sometimes I am a little surprised as to how little health aware we are in 2023 especially the youth. When you speak about STD’s they don’t know a whole lot.”

She urged the youth to take testing more seriously and not to blindly trust the words of their sexual partners about any diseases they may have.

“It is not about getting out there and doing it with anyone and thinking that the person looks good so there is nothing wrong with them. It is not even about taking their word for it. You should see or go with them to the lab or to the doctor. Both parties.”

World AIDS Day 2023 was celebrated under the theme ‘Let the Communities Lead’.