As we head towards World AIDS Day on 1 December, Dr Arun Menon, Director Sexual Health Service Townsville Hospital and Health Service, said it was important for people to get tested for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), including HIV.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
“Once people are tested and diagnosed we can treat them easily and help them before the disease takes hold and causes greater health problems for the patient, as well as causing them to infect their sexual partners.”
In Mount Isa this week to conduct clinics at Mount Isa Sexual Health Service, Dr Menon said HIV was no longer the disease it used to be thanks to advances in medical treatment.
“We don’t see AIDS very often now because treatments are excellent,’’ he said
“Most individuals who have HIV should live a normal life expectancy unless they smoke.”
HIV figures in the North West are up on the last few years, with four cases diagnosed this year, compared to none in 2017 and 2016. With most of those diagnosed with HIV in the 20 to 40 age group, Dr Menon said it was important to emphasise the prevention messages, as well as offering HIV testing to as many people as possible.
“The first prevention message is using a condom correctly. That is protective against all STIs including HIV,’’ Dr Menon said.
“Second message is Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis or PREP, which is a pill people can take to prevent infection, much the same as a woman take a contraceptive pill to prevent conception.
Any GP can provide this PREP medication.
“The third prevention message is Treatment As Prevention or TASP.
“The whole purpose of early diagnosis is that treatment is prevention because if the viral load is fully suppressed a person is no longer infectious.”
Even though AIDS is no longer the threat it once was, Dr Menon says these three prevention messages could help prevent the spread of HIV and improve the health of younger people.