A new pilot project is helping women access HIV prevention information and support by taking practical resources into trusted community settings, helping to break down barriers and tackle stigma.
As part of Zero HIV Stigma Day, (21 July 2026), University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (UHSussex) is supporting a new initiative designed to make HIV prevention information and support more accessible for women and people who menstruate.
Although HIV prevention has advanced significantly in recent years, many women remain unaware that they can access Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP). These medications can help stop HIV from being passed on. National data also shows that women, particularly Black African women, are more likely to be diagnosed with HIV at a later stage and are less likely to access PrEP and PEP than other groups. Tackling these inequalities is a key priority in the Government’s HIV Action Plan and recent national guidance to increase PrEP and PEP uptake amongst women. It also aligns with the Trust’s commitment to reducing healthcare inequalities and delivering Excellent Care Everywhere.
Developed by sexual health clinicians Clare Lewandowski-Fowler-Porter and Emma Lock and Brighton Sexual Health Service at UHSussex, with funding by The Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF), the PrEPared pilot aims to help address these barriers by bringing sexual health information and practical support directly into communities.
What is PrEP?
PrEP is a free and safe medication that which prevents HIV. When taken as prescribed, it is 100% effective at reducing HIV acquisition.
What is PEP?
PEP is an emergency medicine that can be taken up to 72 hours after possible exposure to HIV to prevent HIV transmission. PEP is available from sexual health services in-hours and Emergency Department’s out-of-hours throughout the whole of the UK.
Rather than expecting people to seek out information themselves, the PrEPared project distributes discreet packs through trusted community settings, including shelters, community centres and supported accommodation, helping to reach women and people who menstruate who may face structural barriers to healthcare. Each pack contains sustainable bamboo sanitary pads, condoms, lubricant and an easy-to-read guide explaining important sexual health topics, including PrEP, PEP, and emergency contraception. A QR code provides direct access to STI home testing kit ordering and the Brighton SHAC website.
The project also recognises that menstrual inequalities can be a significant barrier to engaging with healthcare. By providing free menstrual products alongside sexual health information, the initiative aims to meet an immediate need while creating opportunities for conversations about HIV prevention, sexual wellbeing and access to support.
Alongside the packs, the pilot is introducing fast-track referral cards for frontline workers, enabling people who may struggle to navigate traditional healthcare pathways to access specialist sexual health services more quickly.
Clare Lewandowski-Fowler-Porter, Sexual Health Nurse at UHSussex who leads the project said: “Too many women are still unaware that PrEP or PEP is available to them, and practical barriers can make it difficult to access sexual health information and services. PrEPared is about meeting people where they are and making those conversations easier to have. By combining essential sanitary items with clear, accessible information about HIV prevention, we hope to help people understand the choices available to them while tackling some of the wider inequalities that affect access to care. We hope the project will empower more women and people who menstruate to access the support they need and help reduce the stigma that still surrounds HIV.”
Zero Stigma HIV Day is a reminder that everyone deserves equitable access to HIV prevention, testing and treatment, free from judgement or discrimination. Effective HIV treatment means people living with HIV can live long, healthy lives, and people with an undetectable viral load cannot pass HIV on. By expanding awareness of prevention options such as PrEP and PEP and making services easier to access, initiatives like PrEPared are helping more people take control of their sexual health while supporting England’s ambition to end new HIV transmissions.
Find out more
If you think you could benefit from PrEP, PEP or have questions about HIV prevention, speak to your local sexual health clinic, where confidential advice and support are available free of charge. You can find details of your local sexual health clinic at Sexual Health – University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust.
You can also visit Brighton Sexual Health and Contraception Service and Clinics website for more information about PrEP, PEP and other services that we offer.
For further information about the PrEPared project email [email protected].