For the third year running, PrEP Awareness Week, which runs from 27 November to 3 December, highlights the importance of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for protection against catching HIV. PrEP, which is free on the NHS, involves taking a pill containing the drugs tenofovir and emtricitabine and must be started before sex.
Recently released figures from the UK Health Security Agency1 (UKHSA) report that the number of HIV diagnoses in England increased by 6% in 2022 as services resumed following COVID-19 disruption (2,313 in 2021 vs 2,444 in 2022). However there was significant variation between different groups.
PrEP uptake has been greatest in gay and bisexual men. Overall HIV diagnoses fell by 8% in this group (784 in 2022 vs 724 in 2023). However this was not consistent across all demographics. HIV diagnoses increased in heterosexual men and women. The rise was particularly steep in women diagnosed outside of London (31% increase from 300 in 2021 to 393 in 2022).
Diagnoses fell by 17% in those of white ethnicity (508 to 420). Whereas rises were observed among men of Asian origin (+17%) and those of mixed or other ethnic origin (+25%).
With this in mind, the PrEP Awareness Week website is available in 10 languages this year (French, Spanish, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Mandarin, Cantonese, Arabic and Bengali) and includes PrEP information for all genders and sexualities. These languages were selected according to feedback from clinic staff and 2021 census data.3
PrEP prevents HIV transmission and is a vital tool in reaching the Government’s target to eliminate HIV transmission in the UK by 20302. PrEP Awareness Week aims to increase the use of PrEP, to prevent new HIV transmissions. Timed to coincide with World AIDS Day on 1 December, PrEP Awareness Week is organised by London-based award-winning sexual health clinic 56 Dean Street, part of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
“PrEP is one of the most powerful tools we have to end new HIV transmissions,” commented Dr Alan McOwan, consultant at 56 Dean Street. “Everyone should know about PrEP and its potential for preventing HIV. We encourage anyone who thinks they may be at risk of catching HIV to find out more about PrEP and their local clinic by visiting our website at getonprep.co.uk. It’s really that simple.”
As part of the PrEP Awareness Week 2023 campaign, on 1 December 56 Dean Street will be running events at London’s G-A-Y Bar, in the clinic’s own neighbourhood of Soho, and sex venue Sweatbox. At these events, attendees can start PrEP immediately without an appointment. These events are held on World AIDS Day, the event from which PrEP Awareness Week takes inspiration.
