AYSHA

My name is Aysha. I’m a proud Muslim woman originally from beautiful Malaysia. In my home country there is a big vibrant Trans community, but here anything to do with HIV is very taboo.

As an advocate for our LGBTIQA communities, I take pride in my physical health. My faith encourages me to stay healthy and active. It also gives me physical, spiritual, and personal strength and these characteristics are important for me to function at my best.

Yoga helps me stay active and focused. It’s also good for stretching and more importantly works as a powerful mindfulness practice. My daily activities can be stressful and challenging, and yoga helps me stay focused.

Working with forcibly displaced people within LGBTIQA communities, showed me the importance of taking PrEP and sharing that with the gender variant folks from CALD backgrounds.

I like to be a good model for other Trans people. This is important to me as many Trans women are involved in sex work, so PrEP is essential, especially knowing that Trans women of colour are close to 50% more likely to get HIV. PrEP can protect us from HIV.

I’ve been on PrEP Since 2019, and I have never looked back. For me, it’s easy to access, affordable and it works.

My friends recommended the QCGP+ clinic where I went to see a trusted, Trans-friendly doctor to commence my PrEP journey. My initial appointment included a casual chat to see if PrEP was for me, followed by some simple tests, including HIV. Don’t be afraid to ask all the questions you have. My clinician is caring and gives me all the backbone support that I need.

QCGP+ is bulk billing, so I don’t pay for a consultation fee. For my friends who don’t have a Medicare card, there are many clinics with no consultation cost.

Find a clinic HERE.

Once results are in, I return for a follow-up appointment, and after having more questions answered, I decided to start PrEP and get my first PrEP prescription.

I take my prescription to my local pharmacy. As I’m eligible for PBS and being on concession, PrEP is more affordable for me, at only $7.70 (full price on PBS is $30). For those without Medicare, PrEP is still affordable, when ordered from Online Pharmacies at only $20.

Click HERE for affordable PrEP options.

I see my clinician every 3 months to test for all STIs again, and get my new 3-month prescription.

My routine is to take PrEP with a meal at night. I also use a mobile phone reminder to ensure I don’t forget to take my doses. To this day, I haven’t had any side effects and it’s been an easy, carefree process.

I highly encourage all people who are sexually active, particularly LGBTIQA people from CALD communities to take PrEP. Don’t be a statistic. PrEP gives me peace of mind knowing I’m protected from HIV. I’m PrEP-ed to prevent HIV. Let’s stay healthy and strong.