South Africa, Zambia, and Eswatini have begun administering a new HIV-prevention injection, marking a major advancement in efforts to curb the continent’s epidemic. The drug, lenacapavir, is a long-acting antiretroviral that provides near-total protection with just two doses per year. Health officials describe the rollout as one of the most significant breakthroughs in HIV prevention in decades.
Lenacapavir works by blocking the virus from entering healthy cells, effectively acting as an extended-release preventive therapy. Clinical trials indicate a protection rate of 99.9 per cent when the doses are taken as prescribed, making it one of the closest available tools to a practical HIV vaccine.
Initial public health programmes are targeting high-risk groups, including adolescent girls, young women, and communities with limited access to consistent HIV prevention services. Early reports from clinics indicate strong interest in the twice-yearly regimen, which is seen as far more convenient than daily oral preventive medication.
International health agencies have welcomed the rollout, emphasizing that Africa bears the highest HIV burden globally and stands to gain substantially from long-acting prevention methods. Experts expect lenacapavir to reshape national strategies, broaden prevention options for at-risk populations, and accelerate progress in reducing new infections.
Officials say plans are underway for broader distribution as supply expands and additional countries complete regulatory approvals, signalling a new phase in the continent’s fight against HIV.
