Officials with Whitman-Walker Health say they are moving forward in a joint project with the D.C. Department of Health to increase public awareness of the HIV prevention medication known as PrEP that was launched on July 16 during the first annual PrEP Awareness Day in Washington, D.C.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser issued a proclamation on July 16 for PrEP Awareness Day to “call upon all residents, healthcare providers, and community organizations to participate in efforts to increase awareness, understanding, and accessibility of PrEP.”

In a separate statement, Whitman-Walker noted that July 16, 2024, marks the 12th anniversary of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval of PrEP medication as a safe and effective means of preventing HIV infection.

“This day is dedicated to raising awareness about the life-saving benefits of Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and its critical role in the fight against HIV/AIDS,” the statement says. The statement notes that PrEP has been proven to reduce the risk of HIV infection by up to 99 percent when taken as prescribed.

But Whitman-Walker officials and officials with the D.C. Department of Health’s HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD and TB Administration, known as HAHSTA, also pointed out at a July 16 press conference announcing PrEP Awareness Day that a large majority of people who could benefit from PrEP are not using it. 

Full article: https://www.washingtonblade.com/2024/08/07/prep-awareness-day-whitman-walker-dc-deparment-health/