PrEP: Roadmap to the Real World

Conclusion

The past year has been a remarkable turning point in HIV prevention and treatment. Until recently, our only tools to guard people against HIV infection have been behavioral interventions, condoms for those who choose to be sexually active, and aggressive HIV testing campaigns. Now, we are on the threshold of a potential revolution. While optimistic, it is certainly no longer impossible to dream that HIV transmission could be all but eliminated in certain communities if we are able to marshal the resources and the knowledge to use every available tool, both old and new, including PrEP, TLC+, and hopefully -- one day -- vaginal and rectal microbicides and a vaccine.

To get there, however, we must be smart, especially in a time of limited resources. One of the best ways to ensure that we apply PrEP in the safest, most effective, and most cost efficient manner is to study its real-world implementation carefully. That's why the demonstration projects described here are so critical. What a squandered opportunity it would be if we failed to determine how best to use this promising tool and how best to combine it with other available prevention efforts.

Ensuring that these demonstration projects are designed, funded, and implemented as they ought to be will require the support and engagement of every stakeholder. We hope that this report will stand as a call to action and spur productive dialogue to bring us one step closer to a world without HIV.

References

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