The Kingdom of Eswatini received a shipment of the groundbreaking HIV-prevention drug lenacapavir on Tuesday under a new United States–led delivery programme, while Zimbabwe and other selected countries await their allocations.
The announcement was made during a virtual press briefing hosted by the U.S. Department of State’s Africa Regional Media Hub, marking the start of the phased rollout of the twice-yearly injectable across high-burden African countries.
Lenacapavir, developed by U.S.-based Gilead Sciences, is being hailed as one of the most significant breakthroughs in HIV prevention, offering nearly 100 percent protection against new infections when administered correctly. Although only Eswatini has received doses so far, officials said Zimbabwe is among the countries that have made strong progress in preparing for rollout and is ready to begin once supplies are delivered.
Brad Smith, Senior Advisor in the Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy, said the programme, implemented under the America First Global Health Strategy, aims to supply high-burden countries with the first 600,000 available doses in 2026.
“Initial procurement plans had aimed for 500 doses in the first year, but rising demand from African governments triggered a dramatic expansion, with the U.S. Government and the Global Fund jointly reserving the entire 2026 global stock,” Smith said.
Global Fund Executive Director Peter Sands said effective deployment will depend on ensuring the drug reaches people most at risk, guided by epidemiological data.
“This will drive the prioritisation within a country of who is going to receive Lenacapavir. Some countries are well advanced, Zimbabwe, for example, has made a lot of progress on developing a national introduction plan. We and PEPFAR are working with them on exactly how it’s going to be implemented,” he said.
Officials also praised Eswatini for its significant progress against HIV. Once one of the countries with the highest HIV prevalence in the world, it has now surpassed the 95-95-95 target, with the majority of people living with HIV on treatment.
The first doses delivered to Eswatini will be prioritised for individuals at highest risk, particularly women of reproductive age, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, and young people, groups expected to remain a priority in other countries, including Zimbabwe, once their initial consignments arrive.
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