COLUMBUS, Ohio – Pills that can protect against HIV are available, they work well and they’re usually covered by insurance. But many of those who stand to benefit aren’t seeking prescriptions.
READ MORE: In the Columbus Dispatch
Today, city health leaders and HIV experts are calling for more use of the drug Truvada, which often goes by the name PrEP, for pre-exposure prophylaxis.
The pills have been shown to cut the risk of HIV infection by at least 92 percent when taken daily.
“This is a game-changer,” said Columbus Health Commissioner Dr. Teresa Long.
Long is sending out letters this morning to more than 5,000 central Ohio doctors asking them to talk with their patients about PrEP.
Doctors who don’t prescribe Truvada should help patients find a clinic or another doctor who does, she said.
The health department also is starting a public awareness campaign to reach at-risk people where they are, said spokesman Jose Rodriguez. Opportunities include during HIV testing and at festivals including Pride and at clubs, he said. Social media will play an important role.
More than 2,200 Franklin County residents have died from HIV/AIDS in the last 30 years, there are nearly 4,200 county residents living with HIV and HIV diagnoses in Columbus have increased by 7% snce 2003, Rodriguez said.