PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, is a medication that people at risk of HIV take to prevent contracting the virus from sex or injection drug use. When taken as prescribed, PrEP is highly effective for preventing HIV, reducing the risk by about 99 percent.
However, in Nairobi, PrEP has become a 'wonder drug' for some university students, who are using it to engage in unprotected sex with older men who refuse to use protection. The students, who wish to remain anonymous, claim that PrEP has become easily accessible and is being sold over the counter in some pharmacies.
Our investigation found that PrEP is being sold in some pharmacies in Juja, Kiambu County, with some sellers even offering to meet with buyers to discuss wholesale prices. The students we spoke to claimed that they were introduced to PrEP by friends and that it had become a 'green light' for them to engage in unprotected sex.
But experts warn that PrEP is not a substitute for safe sex practices and that it should only be used under the guidance of a healthcare professional. Dr. Gideon Kiprono, a doctor at Olenguruone Sub-County Hospital, said that PrEP should be given out for free at clinics and that people using the medication without being screened and without a doctor's prescription will expose themselves to HIV.
Dr. Mary Adeka, a pharmacist, added that PrEP is not supposed to be sold over the counter and that it should only be given out for free at government facilities under a USAID programme for HIV.
As the use of PrEP continues to rise among university students in Nairobi, experts are warning of the dangers of abusing the medication and the importance of safe sex practices.
