A towering billboard near parliament features a smiling young construction worker holding a pill box with a simple message: “Take a pill a day to prevent HIV.”

It’s a striking reminder that HIV prevention may just be within our reach — thanks to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), a daily medication that helps prevents HIV infection.

Though PrEP has been available for over a decade, its potential impact is only now being fully realized. The medication has already changed lives — helping more than a million couples living with HIV give birth to HIV-negative babies, and offering renewed hope to those most at risk.

In Zambia, Development Aid from People to People (DAPP), a member of the Humana People to People Federation, has been at the forefront of promoting PrEP use.

“With funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we have helped more than 66,600 HIV-negative individuals start taking PrEP in the past 11 months alone. These are mainly people at high risk of contracting HIV — including discordant couples, adolescent girls and young women,” said DAPP Partnership Director, Anne Dorte Hoejrup.

“Our Total Control of the Epidemic worked in four provinces [Southern, Lusaka, Western and Eastern] to test, screen and evaluate individuals before linking them PrEP. Our Field Officers then follow up to provide ongoing support and adherence counselling,” she added.

In Petauke district of Eastern province, Joseph Banda had wanted to divorce after finding out she had HIV.

“…after DAPP TCE Field Officers counselled and showed us the available HIV prevention methods. I decided to stay. They helped me to start to PrEP. Today, we have a two-year-old son and he is HIV negative,” explained Banda.

PrEP is one of the most effective tools in the global effort to end HIV infections. However, experts emphasize that it should be used responsibly and in consultation with healthcare providers.

“We are encouraging anyone who believes they may be at risk of getting HIV to visit a nearby health facility for screening to determine whether they qualify for PrEP. Other prevention methods such as consistent condom, abstinence and sticking to one partner also work,” added Hoejrup.