Esnart Research Advocate.

15/10/2024

I'm excited to kick off my journey as a Digital Social Media Fellow for the 2024 Africa Health Research and Development Week! 🎉

Health research and development (R&D) is the engine behind innovation that transforms healthcare, shapes our future, and improves lives. Through this Fellowship, I aim to amplify key voices and create awareness using engaging posts, videos, and discussions. My goal is to break down the complexities of health R&D, making it accessible and understandable for everyone.

I’m committed to creating a space where we can share ideas and explore solutions to the challenges and opportunities in health innovation. Together, let’s inspire advocacy and push for policies that promote increased funding, transparency, and equity in health research.

🚀 Follow my journey!

26/09/2023

Are you passionate about HIV prevention and advocacy? Do you want to make a real impact on global health? If so, this is your opportunity! I'm excited to invite you to our AVAC Application Information Session where I will hosting three fellows from Zambia. AVAC: Global Advocacy for HIV Prevention is at the forefront of HIV prevention advocacy, and they're offering a fellowship that could change your life while enabling you to change the world. Don't miss out on this chance to become an HIV prevention advocate with AVAC! Join us on 27th September 2023 from 2pm - 3pm via GoogleMeet (https://lnkd.in/dNKj69Rt)! RSVP and send your questions to [email protected]

05/09/2023

I have reached 500 followers! Thank you for your continued support. I could not have done it without each of you. 🙏🤗🎉

30/06/2023

Tuberculosis (TB) training of social media influencers which includes Youths and Women conducted by Citam Plus.
TB is Real
TB is Curable
TB is Preventable
TB Screening is Free
Be knowledgeable, Be TB Aware visit your nearest Health Facility.
lozi, Chola

11/05/2023

PrEP
What is PrEP
Pre exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) refers to drugs taken daily by HIV negative people who are at ongoing risk of HIV infection to reduce their chances of becoming infected with HIV AIDS.

How effective is PrEP?
If used consistently, it can reduce the risk of HIV infection. However, because it does not protect against other STIs or unplanned pregnancies,it should be used with other preventive measures such as make or female condoms for safer s*xual practices

How does PrEP prevent HIV?
If one has been taking PrEP consistently and correctly, it helps build a protective layer around your body cells, such that if you get exposed to HIV, for example by having unprotected s*x with someone who is living with HIV or coming into contact with infected body fluids, PrEP can stop the virus from establishing itself in your body

What are the benefits of PrEP?
If used consistently, PrEP can significantly reduce the risk of HIV infections. However it does not prevent against other STIs and pregnancies and should be used with other preventive measures such as female or male condoms.

How should I take PrEP pills?

For PrEP to be effective, one needs to take it at least 7DAYS BEFORE ANY EXPOSURE to a risky s*xual encounter. Thereafter the pill should be taken once a day for as long as the person remains at risk of HIV infection (or as advised by healthcare providers)
*You should not take two pills at the same time or on the same day to make up for the missed dose.

Am I protected from HIV if I miss a PrEP pill?
When you miss one or more pills, you are greatly reducing the ability of PrEP to provide you with full protection against HIV infection.Evidence has shown that PrEP provides best protection from HIV if it is TAKEN CONSISTENTLY EVERY DAY

If you are HIV negative and you are s*xually active, consider being on PrEP.

11/05/2023

13/03/2023

Ministry of Health Director of Infectious Diseases Lloyd Mulenga says the country will receive the new ARV injectable called cabotegravir (CAB-LA) in October this year.

Prof. Mulenga, who is also Acting Director General for the National AIDS Council (NAC), says Zambia will this year receive this long-acting ARV which is a new injectable ARV offered for prevention of HIV among people at high risk of acquiring virus through a method of preventing HIV called Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP).

Speaking after the closure of the Country Operational Plan (COP23) Co-Planning Meeting in South Africa, Prof. Mulenga says during the address on the World AIDS Day, President Hakainde Hichilema, through the Minister of Health Ms Sylvia T. Masebo, instructed the Ministry of Health to enhance HIV prevention including accelerating the introduction of the injectable ARVs.

He adds that the planned arrival of the CAB-LA is in response to the presidential directive but also to the urgent need for enhancing prevention.

“Between now and October, there will be a lot of sensitization on the drug and which populations can receive it. People need to know that this drug is not for treatment of HIV but for prevention of HIV. There is another drug combination containing Cabotegravir and another injectable called Rilpivirine which is used for HIV treatment, but this one will not be available this year for people living with HIV.
People who are not at high risk of acquiring HIV do not need to take this CAB-LA,” Prof. Mulenga said.

He says health facilities will also need to be prepared and health workers trained on how to administer these drugs.

He says this national training will commence in April and technical experts from the WHO and other bodies will be available to support the country.

"Since it will be a new drug in our population, we will also institute monitoring how our people will be responding to this drug in terms of side effects- a concept called pharmacovigilance. For now what we know is that the drug has minor side effects like pain from the site of the injection and also a few people may have mild headache.

Those people who may not wish to get the injectable ARV may use other options like the oral ARVs (truvada) for prevention," he said.

Zambia was picked as one of the five countries in the world by the United States Government to be supported with procurement of a long acting injectable ARV called cabotegravir (CAB-LA) this year.

19/02/2022

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