October 2019

PrEP is a Gamechanger in Southwest Uganda

The Nuwagabas are a handsome couple in their 20s with two children whom they adore. Sezi works on a ranch in Rubaare, a small town in southwest Uganda. His wife, Jovita, and their children live in a neighboring subcounty. Sezi recently bought land and soon they will all move to Rubaare. Uganda

In 2018, Sezi began feeling unwell and decided to go to Rubaare Health Center IV in for a check-up and was also tested for HIV. He tested positive, received counselling and was immediately started on antiretroviral treatment. The diagnosis was a hard blow because Sezi had tried to be safe in his sex life and could swear that he used condoms almost every time.

“I was always careful,” says Sezi. “When I found a girl I liked, I would first take her to test for HIV at the health center.” With the counselor’s support, he accepted the results and disclosed his status to his wife.

“I was struck with fear,” Jovita says. The couple went for counseling at the health center, and Jovita and the children were tested for HIV. All are HIV-free. This was a great relief for Sezi.

The nurse at the antiretroviral (ART) clinic told them some more good news—about a pill that Jovita could take to stay HIV-free. Jovita and Sezi were referred to the Knowledge Room where they learned about pre-exposure prophyaxis, or PrEP. The Knowledge Room is a health and recreation center in Rubaare that is supported by the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. The Knowledge Room provides confidential HIV services and connects community members to treatment.

Taking PrEPPrEP is a potential game-changer for HIV prevention. It prevents transmission of the virus, bringing relief to discordant couples. (Discordant means that one partner in a relationship is HIV positive and the other is not.)

“Even couples who do their best to use condoms face difficulties,” says Moses Mera, HIV prevention manager for the USAID RHITES-SW project administered by EGPAF in Uganda. “Some couples desire children, despite the fact that one partner has a high viral load. And in some cases the HIV-negative partner has no say when their HIV-positive partner declines to use a condom. PrEP provides additional protection on top of what people have already been using.”

The Nuwagabas admit that it hasn’t been easy to come to terms with HIV and how it came into their lives. But they are determined to support each other and stay on treatment to stay well.

Sezi’s greatest desire is that his family to be healthy.


PrEP is Pre-Exposure prophylaxis an HIV prevention medicine taken to reduce the chances of infection among HIV negative people. Taken daily , the presence of the medicine in the blood blocks HIV from taking hold and spreading in the body. PrEP can help reduce HIV infection up to 90%. PrEP is recommended for people with multiple sexual partners of unknown statuses, those with a history of STI’s in the last 6 months, and those who are unable to use condoms consistently, for example married couples or female sexworkers.

Created by:

Team EGPAF

Country:

Uganda

Topics:

PrEP