Zimbabwe to roll out HIV experimental injection

More than 46 000 people at high risk of HIV infection in districts with elevated new infection rates are set to begin receiving a breakthrough long-acting HIV prevention injection next Wednesday, as Zimbabwe becomes one of the first countries globally to introduce the next-generation prevention tool.

The Ministry of Health and Child Care will officially launch the phased rollout of Lenacapavir in Epworth, Harare, on February 18, marking a significant shift towards long-acting HIV prevention methods designed to improve adherence and reduce new infections.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Aspect Maunganidze, confirmed the development, describing the rollout as a major milestone in strengthening Zimbabwe's HIV prevention strategy.

"The launch of Lenacapavir is expected to take place on February 18 in Epworth, Harare," he said.

Unlike traditional oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), which requires a daily pill to reduce the risk of HIV infection, Lenacapavir is a capsid inhibitor administered via injection only twice a year.

The drug works by blocking a key protein structure — known as the viral capsid — that HIV needs to replicate and spread in the body, offering long-lasting protection without the need for daily medication.

The programme will initially target high-risk populations, including adolescent girls and young women, sex workers, men who have sex with men, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and others whose social and economic circumstances increase their vulnerability to HIV.

The rollout will begin in priority urban centres including Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, Masvingo, Mutare and Chitungwiza, before expanding to additional districts such as Karoi, Mazowe, Tsholotsho, Kwekwe, Shamva and Gwanda.

These areas were selected based on high HIV incidence rates, significant numbers of new infections and strong uptake of existing oral PrEP programmes.

Twenty-four sites have been identified nationwide for the initial phase, with approximately 46 500 people expected to receive the injection.

The first consignment of Lenacapavir arrived in Zimbabwe two weeks ago and was cleared for distribution following inspection by the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ).

Zimbabwe was selected in August 2025 as one of 10 countries in the region to introduce the drug under a global early access programme, reflecting international confidence in the country's HIV response systems and its capacity to implement complex public health interventions at scale.

Nearly 400 health workers have already received specialised training in combination HIV prevention, while national data systems have been upgraded to allow real-time monitoring and evaluation of the rollout.

Southern Africa remains the epicentre of the global HIV epidemic, accounting for a disproportionate share of new infections, particularly among adolescent girls and young women.

Health experts say long-acting injectable prevention options have the potential to transform HIV prevention by addressing challenges associated with daily medication adherence.

Officials say integrating Lenacapavir into existing prevention programmes could significantly reduce new infections, consolidate hard-won gains against HIV and accelerate progress towards ending the epidemic.