Zimbabwe has been selected as one of the first ten countries in the world to roll out Lenacapavir, a groundbreaking injectable medicine designed to prevent HIV.
The programme is being introduced through the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), in partnership with US-based pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences and the Global Fund.
Lenacapavir is a new HIV prevention medicine that only needs to be taken twice a year as an injection, instead of daily pills. It works by blocking the virus from multiplying in the body, making it much harder to spread. In major studies, it kept more than 99% of people HIV-free. It is especially important for groups at higher risk, like pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, and could play a big role in reducing new infections worldwide.
The US Embassy in Harare said the rollout will prioritise pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, a group considered highly vulnerable to infection and a key focus in efforts to curb mother-to-child transmission.
“While this has the potential to save millions of lives, here in Zimbabwe it represents a major step toward ending new infections,” the embassy said in a statement. “By focusing on pregnant and breastfeeding women, we’re protecting the next generation.”
Officials added that the new injection is expected to make HIV prevention more convenient and affordable, while improving adherence compared to daily oral medicines.
The US State Department said the initiative would be extended to countries with the largest HIV epidemics in the coming months, with local partners co-developing strategies for distribution.
“Lenacapavir is one of the most important scientific breakthroughs of our time and the result of nearly two decades of work by Gilead scientists,” it said. “We are providing the medicine at no profit so we can support life-saving programmes where the need is most urgent.”
The Global Fund, which is co-financing the rollout, said wider access to Lenacapavir would be critical in reducing new infections.
“Accelerating access to innovations like Lenacapavir is imperative if we are to turn the tide against HIV,” it said.
Zimbabwe has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in the world, though new infections have been declining steadily over the past decade thanks to widespread treatment and prevention efforts.
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