Zimbabwe to Roll Out New HIV Prevention Injection for 46,000 People
Zimbabwe is set to introduce a new long-acting HIV prevention injection aimed at more than 46,000 high-risk individuals.
This launch will take place in Epworth, Harare, on February 18. With this initiative, Zimbabwe joins a select group of countries implementing this advanced method to combat HIV.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care is leading this effort, which will initially focus on groups most at risk, such as adolescent girls, young women, sex workers, sexually active men, and pregnant or breastfeeding women.
Dr. Aspect Maunganidze, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, highlighted that this rollout is a significant step in enhancing Zimbabwe’s strategies for HIV prevention.
Unlike traditional daily pills, the new injection, named Lenacapavir, only needs to be administered twice a year.
It prevents HIV by blocking a crucial protein that the virus uses to replicate in the body.
The first phase of the rollout will target major cities, including Harare, Bulawayo, and Gweru, before expanding to other areas experiencing high rates of new infections.
A total of 24 sites across the nation have been selected to start the program, the Herald reports.
The arrival of Lenacapavir in Zimbabwe two weeks ago followed strict safety checks. Zimbabwe was chosen as one of ten countries to receive this drug early, reflecting confidence in its public health systems.
Almost 400 health workers have been trained specifically for this rollout, and systems are in place for monitoring its progress effectively.
