Health and Environment
Zimbabwe is set to rollout a groundbreaking twice-yearly HIV prevention injection starting next year, a major advancement in the nation’s fight to end AIDS by 2030.
The long-acting injectable drug, Lenacapavir, will be introduced through a partnership between the government, the Global Fund, and pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences, initially targeting nearly two million people in key and high-risk populations.
National HIV Prevention Co-ordinator at the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Ms. Getrude Ncube, confirmed the development to Zim GBC News, stating that the drug will significantly expand the options available for HIV prevention.
“In Zimbabwe, our prevention toolkit already includes oral Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). We started with oral PrEP, then introduced the Dapivirine ring, and now the long-acting injectable Cabotegravir (CAB-LA). Lenacapavir will be an addition, providing clients with more options to choose from and see which method works best for them,” Ms. Ncube said.
The Ministry has already identified sites for the rollout pending approval from the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe.
The primary beneficiaries will be adolescent girls and young women, female sex workers, and pregnant and lactating women in high-burden areas.
Ms. Ncube highlighted the strategic advantage of the new injection, noting,
“A major issue with daily pills is pill fatigue, which can lead to non-adherence. The bi-annual injection reduces the frequency of visits to health facilities and is discreet, helping those concerned with disclosure.”
The Global Fund will cover the cost of the drug, making it free of charge for recipients. Executive Director of the Global Fund, Mr. Peter Sands, emphasized the importance of the rollout.
“Accelerating access to innovations like Lenacapavir is crucial in our fight against HIV… By focusing on where Lenacapavir can have the greatest impact and collaborating with the US and Gilead, we can help countries integrate it efficiently into their prevention programmes — reducing new infections,” Sands said.
Zimbabwe, which was among the first countries to approve and rollout the CAB-LA injection, is poised to begin distribution of Lenacapavir by January 2026.
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