South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson and The Department of Crime Victim Compensation held a press conference at McLeod Regional Medical Center on November 8 to announce the expansion of HIV nPEP (non-Occupational Post-Exposure Prophylaxis) Program, which provides treatment and follow-up care to victims of sexual assault when they are found to be at risk for contracting HIV.

Speakers included Senator Mike Reichenbach as well as representatives from each of the partnering organizations – McLeod Regional Medical Center, HopeHealth and Pee Dee Coalition.

“Imagine the horror of already being a victim of sexual assault and then having to worry about whether you might have contracted a deadly disease because of that assault,” said Attorney General Wilson. “This program provides life-saving treatment to prevent that, which keeps survivors from being further victimized.”

Florence County is the 5th HIV nPEP and follow-up treatment program for crime victims of sexual assault in the state. South Carolina was the first state in the country to offer this level of service to victims of sexual assault who are found to be at risk for contracting HIV.

non-Occupational Post-Exposure Prophylaxis – nPEP Program
What is nPEP? It is medication (2 types of pills) that can prevent HIV transmission after a sexual assault victim has been exposed to HIV. It means the victim must take antiretroviral medicines after being potentially exposed to HIV to prevent becoming infected. This medication must be started within 72 hours (3 days) of the exposure and must be taken for 28 days.

The 28-day medication regimen can cost as much as $3,000 per victim, and the expense increases with follow-up treatment; but this new program is FREE to sexual assault victims who meet the criteria below.

Individuals qualify if:
• They are a victim of sexual assault and meet the CDC criteria for exposure to HIV
• The sexual assault happened in South Carolina
• The sexual assault occurred within 72 hours of the initial visit to the Emergency Department or HopeHealth, Inc.