Health Dept welcomes arrival of new HIV prevention medicine Lenacapavir

The Department of Health has welcomed the arrival of South Africa’s first batch of a new HIV prevention medicine, Lenacapavir

Close to 38,000 doses of the six-monthly injectable have landed in the country, marking a major step forward in the fight against HIV.

Lenacapavir is expected to strengthen the country’s HIV prevention efforts by offering a new option for people who struggle to access or use existing methods.

The department said this will go a long way in helping reduce new infections and support South Africa’s goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

The injection, which is taken twice a year, is designed to improve adherence, especially among vulnerable groups such as young women, sex workers, and men who have sex with men.

“The department will, in the next few weeks, announce the official launch of this game changer where the phased implementation plan will be outlined. Lenacapavir is preventive medicine, not a vaccine, considered one of the most exciting HIV prevention advances in years,” said department spokesperson Foster Mohale.