Zimbabwe To Roll Out New HIV Prevention Injection, Lenacapavir, This Month

Zimbabwe will start rolling out Lenacapavir this month, a long-acting injection that helps protect HIV-negative people from contracting the virus.

Aspect Maunganidze, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health and Child Care, said 24 sites have been selected across the country, focusing on districts with high rates of HIV and new infections.

The first pilot phase will cover Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, Masvingo, Mutare, Chitungwiza, Karoi, Mazowe, Tsholotsho, Kwekwe, Shamva, and Gwanda.

Around 46,500 people are expected to receive the injection in this phase.

This includes adolescent girls and young women, sex workers, men who have sex with men, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and others whose social or economic circumstances make them more vulnerable to HIV. Said Maunganidze:

“The Ministry of Health and Child Care has completed key readiness activities, including the development of national guidelines, training manuals and information materials, alongside site readiness assessments.

“To date, close to 400 health workers have been trained in combination HIV prevention, including the use of Lenacapavir, while data collection tools have been updated to support monitoring.

“Regulatory clearance was granted by the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe, and the product is expected in the country imminently, marking the final step before service delivery commences.”

Lenacapavir, given just twice a year, provides six months of protection per dose.

Its long-acting formulation is expected to address one of the most persistent challenges in HIV prevention – adherence – particularly for individuals who find it difficult to take a daily pill consistently due to stigma, mobility, work patterns or personal circumstances.

More: The Sunday Mail

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