The Health Department on Wednesday said it had reached agreement on protocols for the provision of antiretroviral drugs to rape survivors.
This follows Health Minister Manto Tshabalala Msimang’s announcement on April 17 that rape victims would be provided with anti-Aids drugs at public hospitals as soon as possible.
When the announcement was made, she said government needed time to discuss the provision of a comprehensive package of care for sexual assault victims.
The package was to include counselling as well as testing for HIV, pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.
In a press statement released on Wednesday, Minister Tshabalala-Msimang said various drug combinations and procedures had been reviewed since April 17 to decide on the best package.
”Antiretrovirals are prescribed after rape on the basis that they have been shown to reduce infections among health workers who sustain needlestick (syringe) injuries.”
The Health Department had therefore felt that the best course of action would be to base its protocols for the care of rape survivors on protocols followed for occupational syringe needle injuries, Tshabalala-Msimang said.
”As a result, the public health service will offer a combination of the same two drugs we use in the occupational setting — that is: AZT and 3TC,” she said.
The Health Department would also acquire the drugs in syrup form to make it easier to treat child victims of sexual assault.
”In instances of sexual assault, special care must be taken to counsel the survivor to enable him or her to make an informed choice on the taking of antiretrovirals.
”Counselling should include information on the risks of using antiretrovirals,” the Minister said, adding that each province would begin to offer the drugs as soon as it had done the necessary groundwork. – Sapa