The City of Laredo announced Monday that the health department acquired $75,000 to provide community members access to Pre-exposure Prophylaxis and Post-Exposure Prevention — medication to reduce the probability of HIV.
The notice states that individuals will incur a $45 cost for medication, provider visits and lab work. Individuals seeking this medication must provide negative HIV test results before receiving the medication. As of Monday, community members can request the service on a needed basis at the Laredo Health Department.
Furthermore, the health department explains that PrEP is for people who do not have HIV but are at a high risk of being exposed to it. PrEP is a daily medication that can reduce the probability of contracting HIV. PEP is for individuals who have possibly been exposed to HIV and is only for emergency use and must be started within 72 hours after a possible exposure.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HIV is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system and can lead to AIDS, which has no cure. HIV has no cure but can be controlled with proper medical care.
The CDC also states that the only way to know if an individual has HIV is to get tested. Symptoms include flu-like symptoms within 2-4 weeks after infection, but some people have no symptoms at all. Others include sore throats, fever, swollen lymph nodes, rash, muscle aches, night sweats, mouth ulcers, chills and/or fatigue.
Aside from the treatment provided by the health department, PILLAR also provides support for STD treatment services and HIV.
PILLAR HIV program supervisor Araceli Perez said in March that the program is vital for the community as sexual activity — regardless of who it’s with — benefits from ensuring oneself is tested and healthy to stop the risk of infection. She said that testing allows residents to know their status and take steps to address their condition.
HIV and syphilis services are free, but a full panel service including HIV, Syphilis gonorrhea, chlamydia and Hepatitis-C costs $50. If test results come back reactive, she said that the $50 also includes treatment for any of the STDs. The wait time for results is approximately 20 minutes as they are rapid tests, but if results come back reactive, blood is drawn for further testing and sent out for verification and confirmation.
Testing is available throughout the week.
A cluster of STD cases were observed last year as COVID-19 restrictions were lifted and cases lowered over time, presumably as more and more people went out, Perez said. However, she said that number of cases always increased, so PILLAR wants to create more awareness in the community about the importance of getting tested, practicing safe sex and educating the community about safe sex.
Discovered on: 2022-07-18 22:09:18
Source: Laredo receives funding to provide affordable HIV treatment
