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Zimbabwe to roll out HIV injection in 2026
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Zimbabwe will next year introduce Lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injectable HIV prevention drug, in a move expected to significantly cut new infections and accelerate progress towards ending AIDS by 2030.
The breakthrough drug, developed by global pharmaceutical leader Gilead Sciences, will be rolled out through a three-year partnership between the Global Fund, Zimbabwe, and other heavily burdened countries, targeting about two million beneficiaries.
National HIV Prevention Co-ordinator in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Ms Getrude Ncube, said the injection will add to the country's growing HIV prevention toolkit.
"In Zimbabwe, our prevention toolkit already includes oral Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), the Dapivirine vaginal ring, and the injectable Cabotegravir (CAB-LA). Lenacapavir will be an addition, giving clients more choices to find what works best for them," she said.
She confirmed that sites have already been identified to administer the injection once it receives approval from the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe.
Ms Ncube said the new intervention will focus on high-risk populations, including adolescent girls and young women, female sex workers, and pregnant and lactating women.
"We've seen cases where pregnant women initially test negative for HIV but test positive near delivery. Lenacapavir will be available to women at risk of acquiring the virus during pregnancy," she said.
This is in line with Zimbabwe's Triple Elimination Agenda, which seeks to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B by 2030.
Global Fund Executive Director, Mr Peter Sands, described Lenacapavir as a vital innovation for resource-limited countries.
"Accelerating access to innovations like Lenacapavir is crucial in our fight against HIV. In resource-limited settings, we must ensure that breakthrough tools are deployed quickly, affordably and effectively," he said.
Zimbabwe has been at the forefront of adopting new prevention methods, having been one of the first countries to approve CAB-LA in 2024 and among the early adopters of the Dapivirine ring.
The United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) confirmed last week that Zimbabwe will be among the first countries to access the new drug.
Ms Ncube assured that the injection will be available free of charge, with the Global Fund covering costs, similar to antiretroviral treatment distribution.
"One of the major challenges with daily PrEP pills is pill fatigue, which can lead to non-adherence. The bi-annual injection reduces clinic visits and is discreet, helping those concerned about disclosure," she explained.
Zimbabwe's Ministry of Health says preparations are advanced for distribution to begin by January 2026, reinforcing the country's leadership in HIV prevention efforts on the continent.
"This development helps us move closer to our 2030 goal of ending AIDS. With continued innovation and strong partnerships, we are optimistic about reducing new infections and sustaining our progress," Ms Ncube said.
The breakthrough drug, developed by global pharmaceutical leader Gilead Sciences, will be rolled out through a three-year partnership between the Global Fund, Zimbabwe, and other heavily burdened countries, targeting about two million beneficiaries.
National HIV Prevention Co-ordinator in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Ms Getrude Ncube, said the injection will add to the country's growing HIV prevention toolkit.
"In Zimbabwe, our prevention toolkit already includes oral Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), the Dapivirine vaginal ring, and the injectable Cabotegravir (CAB-LA). Lenacapavir will be an addition, giving clients more choices to find what works best for them," she said.
She confirmed that sites have already been identified to administer the injection once it receives approval from the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe.
Ms Ncube said the new intervention will focus on high-risk populations, including adolescent girls and young women, female sex workers, and pregnant and lactating women.
"We've seen cases where pregnant women initially test negative for HIV but test positive near delivery. Lenacapavir will be available to women at risk of acquiring the virus during pregnancy," she said.
This is in line with Zimbabwe's Triple Elimination Agenda, which seeks to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B by 2030.
Global Fund Executive Director, Mr Peter Sands, described Lenacapavir as a vital innovation for resource-limited countries.
"Accelerating access to innovations like Lenacapavir is crucial in our fight against HIV. In resource-limited settings, we must ensure that breakthrough tools are deployed quickly, affordably and effectively," he said.
Zimbabwe has been at the forefront of adopting new prevention methods, having been one of the first countries to approve CAB-LA in 2024 and among the early adopters of the Dapivirine ring.
The United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) confirmed last week that Zimbabwe will be among the first countries to access the new drug.
Ms Ncube assured that the injection will be available free of charge, with the Global Fund covering costs, similar to antiretroviral treatment distribution.
"One of the major challenges with daily PrEP pills is pill fatigue, which can lead to non-adherence. The bi-annual injection reduces clinic visits and is discreet, helping those concerned about disclosure," she explained.
Zimbabwe's Ministry of Health says preparations are advanced for distribution to begin by January 2026, reinforcing the country's leadership in HIV prevention efforts on the continent.
"This development helps us move closer to our 2030 goal of ending AIDS. With continued innovation and strong partnerships, we are optimistic about reducing new infections and sustaining our progress," Ms Ncube said.
Source - Sunday News
