Since the beginning of the year, PREP has become available for more than 3,000 Kazakhstanis

July 17, 2024

Every year, the number of adherents of pre-exposure HIV prevention (PREP) is growing in the country. This is a type of prevention recommended by the World Health Organization. PREP or PrEP is an effective way to prevent HIV transmission, provided it is regularly used by people without HIV in order to prevent infection in case of contact with the virus. PREP consists of taking medications such as tenofovir and emtricitabine daily.

Global studies show that PrEP drugs are quite effective in reducing the risk of HIV transmission: by 99%. In Kazakhstan, this method of HIV prevention has been introduced since 2021. Today, 7084 people have received PREP in the country, of which 3218 have chosen this method of prevention since the beginning of this year.  Drugs can be obtained free of charge and confidentially from regional HIV prevention centers and non-governmental public organizations. Migrants can buy at pharmacies with a prescription from doctors at HIV Prevention Centers or private medical centers.

As is known, HIV in the country is spread mainly in key population groups. Therefore, PREP is relevant primarily for people who use drugs, men who have sex with men, sex workers, trans people, discordant couples (one of the partners with HIV). Access to key populations is difficult due to stigma and discrimination. For this reason, many are afraid to contact medical organizations. Therefore, PREP has been available since 2023 in non-governmental public organizations. Six friendly NGOs provide drugs through medical professionals, two have received a license. The joint activities of doctors and equal navigators from among NGOs are actively carried out through chatbots, websites, social networks and outreach work.

Since last year, registration for those wishing to take PREP has been simplified in the country: only a negative HIV test result and screening of HIV symptoms are required. This is a significant plus for increasing the motivation of those who have not yet decided to take PrEP.

The next step in popularizing PREP is to increase the effective partnership of physicians with the community. This is the expansion and diversification of models at the community level, including medical licensing of services for NGOs, and the development of information materials. The ambitious goal is to provide the service to more than 22 thousand people by 2027.

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