Pre-exposure prophylaxis to prevent HIV was approved for use almost two and a half years ago and listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme this year, but the take-up in rural and regional areas has been much slower than in cities.
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Two organisations hope to combat this by hosting an information session in Bendigo on Thursday, October 18.
Related: Australia leads on HIV with PrEP
PrepAccessNow and Bendigo-based Thorne Harbour Country’s free information session will have advocates and health professionals discuss pre-exposure prophylaxis (or PrEP), how to access it, personal experiences with pre-exposure prophylaxis, and other tools to prevent HIV.
Thorne Harbour Country program co-ordinator Damien Stevens-Todd said stigma, less education around HIV and sexual health, and less demand on doctors were among the factors that contributed to the disparity in take-up between urban and rural areas.
PrEP involves HIV-negative people taking anti-retroviral drugs to prevent HIV.
“The better access we have to the tools we have to prevent HIV, the better chance we have of effectively eliminating the virus,” PrepareAccessNow vice-chairperson Michael Whelan said.
The event will be held at the La Trobe Art Institute in View Street from 6pm.
To register, visit the registration website.