ART for Prevention

People living with HIV are in favour of increasing access to existing forms of prevention and support the research of new prevention approaches to increase their reproductive health choices and to protect their partners.

Prevention strategies based on antiretrovirals (ARVs) are an established component of the global HIV response, including the prevention of vertical transmission and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Recent trials have shown that ARVs could potentially also be used in other ways to prevent HIV, for example as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). However, there are many questions about the safety and effectiveness of such strategies. In addition there are serious questions about the ethical, practical and financial implications of making ARVs widely available for people who are not living with HIV.

GNP+ has participated in consultations and dialogues to advocate that people living with HIV are engaged in the development and implementation of ART for prevention strategies. In order to assess the impact of dramatically scaling up access to HIV testing and treatment on the lives of HIV-positive people, GNP+ is supporting the Swaziland Network of People Living with HIV to document the experiences and perspectives of people living with HIV and to assess the human rights implications.