DAKAR, Senegal – National authorities are strongly urged to provide HIV post-exposure prophylaxis as part as their national HIV policy, according to a new set of joint guidelines presented today by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
The guidelines, developed jointly by the ILO and the WHO, are presented and discussed today in a joint satellite session at the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA), taking place here from 3 to 7 December.
The guidelines address the issue of post-exposure prophylaxis following exposure to HIV. Post-exposure prophylaxis to HIV is the only way of reducing the risk of development of HIV infection in an individual who has been exposed to the virus.
Each day thousands of workers, especially health care workers – but also emergency rescue staff, waste-disposal workers, law enforcement personnel, fire-fighters and others – may be exposed to infected blood and other body fluids while performing their work duties.
The Joint WHO-ILO Guidelines on post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to prevent HIV infection focus on how to provide PEP, a short-term antiretroviral treatment that reduces the likelihood of HIV infection after possible exposure.
The guidelines address the practical aspects of the use of HIV PEP and provide a framework to guide implementation of services for both occupational and non-occupational exposure to HIV, including in cases of sexual violence. At the same time, the guidance tackles the ethical and human rights issues associated with HIV PEP, including the right to compensation and how to ensure equitable access for all those who require the treatment.
Specific challenges to the use of HIV PEP for people who have been sexually assaulted are outlined in the guidance, with recommendations to include HIV PEP as part of a comprehensive package of services for victims of sexual violence, rather than stand-alone interventions. Particular attention is paid to the needs of certain groups, including refugees and displaced populations who may face exceptionally high levels of sexual violence in crisis settings.
The guidelines emphasise that workplace policies on HIV should include guidance on the use of HIV PEP as part of a management strategy.
“A safe and healthy workplace requires HIV PEP to be widely available for all who need it”, says Dr. Sophia Kisting, Director of the ILO’s Programme on HIV/AIDS and the world of work, “and a non-discriminatory approach to service accessibility is crucial. But the best way to avoid occupational transmission of HIV is to prevent needlestick injuries and other exposures to the virus from occurring in the first place. The work environment should be healthy and safe to prevent transmission of HIV. This is one of the key principles of the ILO Code of Practice on HIV/AIDS and the world of work”, she explains.
The purpose of the Joint WHO-ILO Guidelines on post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to prevent HIV infection is to:
- Guide policy development and implementation of HIV PEP, including legal and human rights issues;
- Describe the recommended clinical management of HIV PEP with an emphasis on provision of counselling and facilitating informed consent;
- Emphasize policy issues and clinical management of occupational HIV exposure for the wide range of workers at risk of contracting HIV;
- Delineate key considerations for the provision of HIV PEP to people who have been sexually assaulted.
More information:
For press enquiries during ICASA 2008, please contact Josée Laporte on +221/77-182-42-39 or Djibril Ndiaye on +221/77-182-42-40.
Alternatively you can contact Adam Bowers in Geneva on +4122/799- 6126.
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