Recently Asked Questions
What is PrEP?
PrEP is a pill that is taken once a day and helps prevent HIV infection.How well does it work?
PrEP is an antiretroviral drug which helps HIV negative people stay negative. When taken daily, PrEP has been shown to reduce the chance of getting HIV by more than 90%.What is the difference between PrEP, PEP, and ART?
All three contain antiretroviral medicines in different combination for different purposes:- PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is a pill that has two anti-HIV medicines taken daily to prevent HIV for HIV negative people.
- PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) is a pill containing three anti-HIV medicines taken within 72 hours after exposure to HIV (e.g. after rape) for 28 days to prevent HIV
- ART (antiretroviral therapy) is a 3-medicine treatment for HIV-positive people to reduce the levels of HIV in a person’s body
PrEP is only taken by people who are HIV negative. PrEP is only recommended for HIV-negative people who are at high risk of getting HIV.
Is PrEP for me?
Taking a pill every day for ongoing protection from HIV might not be for everybody, but it is an excellent option for people at high risk of getting HIV. Most people can safely use PrEP, but a healthcare provider will provide you with information to help determine whether you should take PrEP.What happens when I forget to take my pill?
If you forget to take the pill, take it as soon as you remember and continue to take it consistently daily.If I take PrEP, should I take it for lifetime?
No, it is important to take PrEP daily if you feel that you are at high risk of being infected with HIV. But if you feel that you are no longer at high risk, you should consult your health care worker before you stop.What happens when I want to stop taking PrEP?
If you feel that you no longer need PrEP, talk to your health care provider before you stop. They will tell you about other HIV prevention options.Can I take PrEP only for a night?
No, you should take PrEP daily for it to work effectively.Does PrEP prevent STIs and Pregnancy?
No, PrEP does not protect against pregnancy and Sexual Transmitted Infections (STIs). PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV. Use it together with condom to prevent STIs and pregnancy.Is PrEP safe?
Yes! PrEP is very safe.How often should I take PrEP?
You take one PrEP pill once a day. It helps to take the pill at the same time each day.Can I use PrEP and contraceptive together?
Yes, PrEP can be taken with any other contraceptive methods.Can I share PrEP with other people, my HIV-positive partner or use someone else’s HIV medication?
Never, it is important not to share your PrEP pills.Does PrEP have side effects?
All medicines potentially have some side effects. Most are minor and can be tolerated. These side effects differ with different people. Some people get mild side effects when they start PrEP. The most common side effects associated with PrEP medicines include nausea, headache, tiredness, diarrhea, depression, tiredness, and changes in appetite. Only one person in ten people could have side effects and, in most people, these side effects go away within a few weeks.What happens if you take PrEP and you are HIV-positive?
PrEP should not be used as HIV treatment. For PrEP we use two ARV medicines while HIV positive people need a combination of three antiretroviral drugs for treatment. Thus, using PrEP medicines means treatment is sub-optimal and the person will develop treatment failure and possibly resistance to ARV medicines. PrEP works when used together with other effective HIV prevention methods. It does not prevent STIs or pregnancy.If I use PrEP, can I stop using condom when having sex?
PrEP is an additional HIV prevention option. No single HIV prevention method is 100% effective and PrEP is no exception thus where possible, should be used in combination with other methods such as condoms. Using condoms is an effective way to prevent HIV infection. Condoms protect against STIs and pregnancy when used correctly and consistently.How long does it take for PrEP to become protective?
When taken every day, PrEP is safe and highly effective in preventing HIV infection. PrEP reaches maximum protection from HIV for receptive anal sex at about seven days of daily use. For receptive vaginal sex and injection drug use, PrEP reaches maximum protection at about 20 days of daily use.Can I acquire HIV while using PrEP?
When taken daily and consistently, PrEP can reduce the risk of getting HIV by 90%.Can I drink alcohol while taking PrEP?
There are no known interactions between PrEP medicines and alcohol. However, drinking too much may lead you to forget to take your medicine on time. In this case, it is usually best to take your pill before you start drinking.Are there tests that must be conducted before I can take PrEP?
Yes, there are tests that must be conducted before you can take PrEP. The first test is to confirm that you are HIV-negative through a rapid HIV test. There are other tests that are required to confirm if you have Hepatitis B and to establish the state of your kidney, but you can usually start PrEP before getting the results of these last two tests.| Myth | Fact |
| One Event Driven (ED) PrEP is only for gay men | PrEP is for anyone who doesn’t have HIV but at risk of getting it through sex or IV drug use. |
| PrEP is expensive | It is free |
| It is hard to get a prescription for PrEP | Any licensed health care provider an prescribe PrEP |
| You only need to take PrEP after having unprotected sex | You must take PrEP consistently for it to protect you from HIV if ever exposed. PEP (Post Exposure Prophylaxis) is taken after having unprotected sex. |
| It is only for people with multiple sexual partners | It is good to take it even with one sexual partner. |
| PrEP has bad side effects | It is safe, and most people don’t have any side effects. Most of the side effects are mild such as headache, nausea, abdominal pain. |
| You’ll need to stay on PrEP for the rest of your life | One can go off PrEP once they are no longer at risk.
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IHVN Supported PrEP Facilities
| S/No | Facility |
| Rivers State | |
| 1 | Agbonchia Model Primary Health Centre |
| 2 | Ahoada General Hospital |
| 3 | Akpajo Model Primary Health Centre |
| 4 | Ayungu Biri Model Primary Health Centre |
| 5 | Bonny General Hospital |
| 6 | Bonny KP One Stop Shop |
| 7 | Bori General Hospital |
| 8 | Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital |
| 9 | Churchill Model Primary Health Centre |
| 10 | Ebubu Model Primary Health Centre |
| 11 | Eleme General Hospital |
| 12 | Health of the Sick Hospital, Nkpogu |
| 13 | HIV/AIDS Resource Centre, Port-Harcourt |
| 14 | Ibaka Model Primary Health Centre |
| 15 | Initiative for Advancement of Humanity (IAH) |
| 16 | Isiokpo General Hospital |
| 17 | KPIF Obio-Akpor KP OSS |
| 18 | Mgbundukwu (Okija) Model Primary Health Centre |
| 19 | Nchia Health Centre |
| 20 | Obio Cottage Hospital |
| 21 | Ogoloma Model Primary Health Centre |
| 22 | Okomoko General Hospital |
| 23 | Okrika General Hospital |
| 24 | Okuru-ama Model Primary Health Centre |
| 25 | Onne Model Primary Health Centre |
| 26 | Oyigbo Comprehensive Health Centre |
| 27 | Pope John Paul Clinic |
| 28 | Rumuodomaya Model Primary Health Centre |
| 29 | Terabor General Hospital |
| 30 | University of Portharcourt Teaching Hospital |
| Nasarawa | |
| 1 | Akwanga Primary Health Care Center |
| 2 | Akwanga General Hospital |
| 3 | Our Lady of Apostles Hospital – Akwanga |
| 4 | Awe General Hospital |
| 5 | Doma General Hospital |
| 6 | Doma Primary Health Center |
| 7 | Maraba Gurku Primary Health Center |
| 8 | Masaka Primary Health Care |
| 9 | Karu Primary Health Center |
| 10 | Mararaba Guruku Medical Center |
| 11 | Mission Hopsital |
| 12 | Uke General Hospital |
| 13 | Anguwan Waje Primary Health Care |
| 14 | Federal Medical Center – Keffi |
| 15 | Keffi General Hospital |
| 16 | Garaku General Hospital |
| 17 | Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital |
| 18 | Doma Road Primary Health Care Center |
| 19 | Graceland Clinic – Lafiya |
| 20 | PHC Tudun Kauri |
| 21 | Shabu Model Comprehensive Center |
| 22 | Main Town Nasarawa Primary Health Care |
| 23 | General Hospital Mararaba Odege |
| 24 | na Nasarawa General Hospital |
| 25 | Alushi ERCC |
| 26 | Nasarawa Eggon General Hospital |
| 27 | na Obi General Hospital |
| 28 | Obi Primary Health Care Center – Agyragu |
| 29 | St. Bernards Clinic – Akanga |
| 30 | Wamba General Hospital |
| 31 | KPIF_Akwanga OSS |
| 32 | Karu KP one stop shop |
| 33 | KPIF_Karu OSS |
| 34 | Lafia KP One Stop Shop |
| FCT | |
| 1 | ANAWIM OSS |
| 2 | Gwagwalada KP OSS |
| 3 | Gwarimpa OSS |
| 4 | International Centre for Advocacy on Rights to Health |
| 5 | Mabushi OSS |
| 6 | Nyanya OSS |
| 7 | Reach Care Foundation |
| 8 | Youthrise OSS |
| Katsina | |
| 1 | Alheri Clinic |
| 2 | Batsari General Hospital |
| 3 | Baure General Hospital |
| 4 | Federal Medical Center – Katsina |
| 5 | Funtua General Hospital |
| 6 | Ingawa General Hospital |
| 7 | Jibia General Hospital |
| 8 | Kankara General Hospital |
| 9 | Kankia General Hospital |
| 10 | Katsina General Hospital |
| 11 | Malumfashi Maternal and Child Health Clinic |
| 12 | Mani General Hospital |
| 13 | Musawa General Hospital |
| 14 | Rimi General Hospital |
| 15 | Daura General Hospital |
| 16 | Danmusa General Hospital |
| 17 | Dutsinma General Hospital |
| 18 | Malumfashi General Hospital |
| 19 | Funtua One Stop Shop |
| 20 | Katsina One Stop Shop |
| 21 | HADEF |
| 22 | Murna Foundation |