The Santos Dumont Institute (ISD) was authorized by the State Department of Public Health (Sesap/RN) through the State Program IST/Aids and Viral Hepatitis, to dispense Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, better known as PrEP. Qualification took place on April 27, 2022, inserted in the context of the agreement signed by the Bipartite Intermanagers Commission No. 560/10 – CIB/RN and the Specialized Care Service for Pregnant Women and Children Living with HIV/AIDS – Maternal and Child SAE. 

The medication, which consists of a combination of two antiretrovirals (tenofovir + emtricitabine) is a new method of preventing contamination by the HIV virus and is distributed free of charge in pill format by the Ministry of Health. Prophylaxis will be dispensed through the Specialized Maternal and Child Care Service (SAE MI) of the Santos Dumont Institute (ISD), operating at the Anita Garibaldi Health Education and Research Center (Anita), one of the ISD units in the area rural Macaíba.

The drugs that make up PrEP block certain “pathways” that HIV uses to infect the body. In the ISD, the delivery of medication will take place from this month onwards for people who meet the specificities and who live in one of the municipalities in the 3rd Region, 4th Region or 7th Region of Health (see list below). 

According to ISD's infectologist preceptor, Carolina Damásio, PrEP is aimed at individuals who may have sexual intercourse considered to be at risk for HIV. PrEP must be taken daily and does not replace the use of other means of preventing HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). 

“We will cover and enable more points of care for patients eligible for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV. In addition, there will be greater publicity about this HIV prevention strategy, which is very important. PrEP is one of the prevention strategies for HIV, but it does not prevent the contamination of other sexually transmitted infections. Ideally, there should be combined prevention, that is, the use of PrEP and condoms; not sharing syringes when using drugs, for example”, warns Carolina Damásio.

Individuals interested in using PrEP through Instituto Santos Dumont should be aware of the eligibility criteria. The medication, when the delivery is authorized by the infectologist doctor, is preceded by an outpatient consultation in which a questionnaire must be answered by the patient to support inclusion in the program. 

Services related to PrEP will be concentrated on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at the Anita Garibaldi Health Education and Research Center (Anita), from 8 am to 4:30 pm. Appointments should be made through the number: (84) 4042 0033 / 4042 0044. 

This new health service at the ISD will be one more possibility for trans women, cis women sex workers, cis women with a serodiscordant sexual partner for HIV infection (when one has and the other does not have HIV infection) to plan a pregnancy assisted by a multidisciplinary team, with the aim of reducing the risk of contamination of the baby as much as possible. 

“We are able to carry out, in full, all reproductive planning actions for serodiscordant sexual partnerships. This service is already carried out at the ISD for pregnant women living with HIV or who are partners of people living with the virus”, emphasizes infectologist Carolina Damásio. 

At ISD, the team responsible for PrEP is made up of infectologists Carolina Damásio and Manoella Alves, preceptors, obstetricians and gynecologists Larissa Rodrigues Freire, Sandrégenes Maia and Thaíse Lopes; by the preceptor social worker Alexandra Lima; Danielle Alecrim, biochemistry pharmaceutical preceptor; and by nurse preceptor Monise Pontes.

Know more

What is PrEP HIV?

HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis is a new method of preventing HIV infection. It consists of taking a pill daily that allows the body to be prepared to face a possible contact with HIV, that is, the individual prepares himself before having a risky sexual relationship for HIV.

How does PrEP work?

PrEP is a combination of two drugs (tenofovir + emtricitabine) that block certain “pathways” that HIV uses to infect the body. If you take PrEP daily, the medication can stop HIV from taking hold and spreading in your body. 

But be careful: PrEP only works if you take the medicine every day. Otherwise, there may not be enough concentration of the active substances in your bloodstream to block the virus.

How long does it take for PrEP to start working?

After using the medicine 7 days for anal intercourse and 20 days of use for vaginal intercourse. 

Important: PrEP does not protect against other Sexually Transmitted Infections (such as syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea) and therefore must be combined with other prevention strategies, such as condoms.

In ISD, prophylaxis will be offered to:

– Women in the coverage area* of the SAE MI of the Santos Dumont Institute with indication of PrEP** (trans women, cis women sex workers, cis women with serodiscordant sexual partner for HIV infection);

– Family planning in: cis women who want to get pregnant and have an HIV-serodiscordant sexual partner; trans men who want to get pregnant. 

Who can use PrEP? 

PrEP is not for everyone. It is indicated for those who are at greater risk of coming into contact with HIV. You should consider using PrEP if you are in one of these key populations: 

Gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM); 

trans people;

Sex workers.

And furthermore, if you: 

Often fails to use a condom during sexual intercourse (anal or vaginal);

Have sex, without a condom, with someone who is HIV positive and who is not on treatment;

Makes repeated use of PEP (Post Exposure Prophylaxis to HIV);

It presents frequent episodes of Sexually Transmitted Infections.

In Natal, Giselda Trigueiro Hospital, through the Institute of Tropical Medicine (IMT), dispenses prophylaxis to all audiences, without restriction. 

How can I start using PrEP?

Look for a health professional and find out if you are indicated for PrEP. With PrEP, you must take your medication every day, have regular checkups, and pick up your medication for free every three months.

Municipalities covered by the ISD

See below the cities included in the PrEP dispensation program through the Santos Dumont Institute:

7th Health Region: Extremoz, Macaíba, Natal, Parnamirim and São Gonçalo do Amarante;

4th Health Region: Cerro-Corá, Bodó, Santana do Matos, Lagoa Nova, Currais Novos, Jucurutu, Florânia, Tenente Laurentino, São Vicente, Jardim de Piranhas, São Fernando, Caicó, Cruzeta, Acari, Carnaúba dos Dantas, Serra Negra do Norte, Timbaúba dos Baptists, São João do Sabugi, Ipueira, Ouro Branco, Jardim do Seridó, Santana do Seridó, Ecuador and Parelhas.

3rd Health Region: Macau, Guamaré, Galinhos, Caiçara do Norte, São Bento do Norte, Pedra Grande, São Miguel de Touros, Touros, Rio do Fogo, Maxaranguape, Ceará-Mirim, Ielmo Marinho, Taipu, Pureza, Poço Branco, Bento Fernandes, Riachuelo, João Câmara, Parazinho, Jardim de Angicos, Caiçara do Rio dos Ventos, Lajes, Pedra Preta, Jandaíra and Pedro Avelino.