HIV guinea pig injection available this month

Zimbabwe is set to begin a phased rollout of Lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable that protects HIV-negative individuals from contracting the virus, starting this month in 12 high-priority districts and urban centres.

The pilot programme will cover Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, Masvingo, Mutare, Chitungwiza, Karoi, Mazowe, Tsholotsho, Kwekwe, Shamva, and Gwanda. Health authorities say the initiative marks a major milestone in the country's efforts to curb new HIV infections and consolidate gains in HIV prevention.

Health and Child Care Permanent Secretary Dr Aspect Maunganidze said the rollout follows months of preparation, including regulatory approval, health worker training, and site readiness assessments.

"To date, close to 400 health workers have been trained in combination HIV prevention, including the use of Lenacapavir," Dr Maunganidze said. "Regulatory clearance was granted by the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe, and the product is expected in-country imminently, marking the final step before service delivery commences."

Zimbabwe was selected in August 2025 as one of 10 countries in the region to introduce Lenacapavir through a global early access programme, reflecting confidence in the country's ability to implement complex public health interventions.

Lenacapavir is administered twice a year, providing six months of protection per dose. Its long-acting formulation addresses a key challenge in HIV prevention: adherence. This is particularly beneficial for individuals who find daily oral pills difficult due to stigma, mobility, work commitments, or other personal circumstances.

Approximately 46,500 people are expected to receive the injection during the initial phase. Target groups include adolescent girls and young women, sex workers, men who have sex with men, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and others with heightened vulnerability to HIV.

Dr Maunganidze said the Ministry is also intensifying public awareness campaigns to increase demand for HIV prevention services. Digital tools, including Vimbai — an AI-powered chatbot developed with the Centre for Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Research (CeSHHAR) — will be used to provide information on HIV prevention, self-testing, and mental health, targeting populations that face barriers to accessing traditional health facilities.

The pilot programme will inform future national scale-up, ensuring systematic expansion while maintaining quality care. The broader goal is to reduce new HIV infections and align Zimbabwe with global targets to end AIDS as a public health threat.

"This phased approach allows us to reach the populations that will benefit most while strengthening service delivery and ensuring health systems are not overstretched," Dr Maunganidze said.

With Southern Africa remaining the epicentre of the global HIV epidemic, experts say long-acting injectable options like Lenacapavir could significantly alter the trajectory of HIV prevention if effectively integrated into national programmes.