Radio Cadena Agramonte emisiora de Camagüey
Camagüey, September 5. - In the context of the fight against HIV/AIDS in Cuba, the Camagüey Health Promotion Center has emerged as a crucial player in the implementation of innovative preventive strategies.
Its work focuses on a high-impact biomedical tool: Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), an antiretroviral drug that, when taken by uninfected but high-risk individuals, drastically reduces the likelihood of acquiring the virus.
MSc. Ana Isabel Abay Márquez, head of the Educational Component of the Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS Section at the Provincial Center for Hygiene and Microbiology, emphasized that this team implements a comprehensive model where accurate, accessible, and stigma-free information is the true key to success.
She added that "this strategy is specifically targeted at vulnerable populations, such as men who have sex with men (MSM), transgender, bisexual, and heterosexual people. He also highlighted that PrEP has demonstrated up to 99 percent effectiveness in reducing sexually transmitted infections, provided it is used consistently."
Yanz Pedrera Casalis, Provincial Coordinator of the MSM Network, explained that this strategy ensures that the message does not remain an abstract campaign, but rather effectively reaches those who need it most through educational workshops, talks in safe spaces, and work with opinion leaders within the community.
Pedrera Casalis explained that in Cuba, where the healthcare system is public, this translates into the distribution of free PrEP in healthcare institutions, along with counseling on treatment adherence.
Abay Márquez emphasized that the core of this strategy is specialized counseling consultations in each health area in the capital of Camagüey, where a multidisciplinary team of physicians, psychologists, and health promoters provides personalized care.
She pointed out that although PrEP is highly effective, it does not protect against other STIs, so its complementary use with condoms is recommended.
The Camagüey model demonstrates that the success of a biomedical intervention like PrEP depends not only on the drug itself, but also on the ability of health systems to connect with people, understand their realities, and provide tools based on empathy and scientific knowledge, laying the foundations for the eventual elimination of HIV/AIDS transmission. (Maykel Torres La Rosa/Radio Cadena Agramonte) (Photos: Taken from the Internet)
