Florida is Providing Free PrEP
At the end of last year, October to be specific, the state of Florida started a new initiative for HIV-prevention.
The Florida Department of Health started a program with 16 counties to offer free PrEP, or Truvada, to gay and bisexual Floridians. In addition, they hope that by the end of this year, 2018, all 67 counties will take part in this program that’s attempting to reduce the number of HIV-infections.
Mara Gambineri, the spokersperson for PrEP, talked to the GayTimes and said:
“Ensuring PrEP to those at highest risk for HIV infection, regardless of their ability to pay, is one of the four key components of the agency’s plan to eliminate HIV transmission and reduce HIV-related deaths.”
“There have been no reported occurrences of widespread PrEP failure here or around the world,” they added.
More: A New Study Found That PrEP Is Safe For Gay Teens
The World Health Organization (otherwise known as the WHO) added PrEP to its list of “essential medicines.” This happened after Scotland made the announcement that it would make the “life-changing” treatment available on the NHS. They were the first country to make this change, and now several countries (and now a US state) are following suit.
“For every person who would have become HIV positive without PrEP, NHS Scotland will save £360,000 [just shy of half a million American dollars] in lifetime treatment costs,” said Robert McKay, the National Director for Terrence Higgins Trust Scotland.
If you live in Florida and want access to free PrEP, you have to first be in a county that is providing it and then you need to fill out this application form.
h/t: InstinctMagazine
