Breaking News: UNAM Opens HIV Prevention Office in Collaboration with IMSS
June 1, 2023 – 10:00 AM
UNAM and IMSS Join Forces for Comprehensive HIV and STI Prevention
In a groundbreaking initiative aimed at strengthening HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention, the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) has opened a specialized office in collaboration with the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS). This new space, located near Ciudad Universitaria, is designed to offer treatments for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), benefiting an estimated 500,000 people, including 370,000 students.
Access to Preventive Treatments and Vaccinations
The office will prioritize the health of UNAM members by providing access to HIV preventive treatments and vaccination programs for Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Additionally, the facility will address other preventable and curable STIs. Fernando Macedo Chagolla, Secretary of Service and Attention to the University Community, emphasized the importance of prevention and education in combating these health issues.
International Recognition for Innovative Prevention Strategies
Luisa Cabal, Regional Director of Onusid, congratulated UNAM and IMSS for this innovative action, positioning Mexico as a reference in HIV prevention strategies. Cabal highlighted the commitment to the well-being of young people and the implementation of PrEP and PEP in a university environment as an example of respectful and accessible problem-solving.
Expanding Prevention Strategies Across UNAM
Gustavo Olaiz Fernández, head of the General Directorate of Health (DGAS) of UNAM, noted that while global HIV infections have decreased by over 60%, more than one million new cases are recorded annually. Olaiz described PrEP and PEP as novel tools requiring greater diffusion and emphasized the importance of evaluating the intervention’s results for replication in other university venues.
An Inclusive Space for Sexual and Reproductive Rights
Luis Adrián Quiroz Castillo, General Coordinator of Habientes living with HIV of the IMSS, stressed that the inauguration of this service coincides with Pride month for the LGBTQ+ community. Quiroz noted that over 85% of individuals accessing PrEP and PEP treatments remain in them. The office aims to be an inclusive and respectful space for sexual and reproductive rights.
Future Expansion and Targeting Vulnerable Youth
In the coming months, UNAM plans to extend these prevention strategies to other schools in the metropolitan area, across the country, and even to high school levels. Jorge Baruch Díaz, Chief of the Clinic of the Traveler of UNAM, underscored the need to serve young people aged 20-34, who represent the majority of new HIV diagnoses globally. The office is described as a symbol of hospitality and coherence with human rights, serving as an educational tool promoting body care and prevention without stigmas.
Inauguration Attended by Prominent Authorities
The inauguration ceremony was attended by various authorities, including Jovan Zahid Guadarrama Porrúa, head of the current area of life of the Coordination of IMSS Welfare Programs, and Eduardo Abasolo Ramírez, Coordinator of Prevention and Health Care of the Southern Deconcentrated Administrative Operation Body of the Federal District. This joint effort reinforces the commitment of the involved institutions to the integral health of the university community and the promotion of transformative education.
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