Long-acting HIV prevention injection available this month
Zimbabwe will this month begin the phased rollout of Lenacapavir, a long-acting prevention injection that protects HIV-negative people from contracting the virus, starting in 12 high-priority health districts and urban centres.
The rollout, which will start in priority areas that include Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, Masvingo, Mutare and Chitungwiza, is a major milestone in the country’s fight to curb new infections and also aims to consolidate hard-won gains against HIV/AIDS.
It positions Zimbabwe among a small group of early-adopting countries globally to introduce the next generation of HIV prevention tools, as scientists and public health experts increasingly view long-acting injectable medicines as a game changer in addressing persistent gaps in HIV prevention, particularly among populations that struggle with daily pill adherence.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care says the first doses of the breakthrough drug are expected in the country imminently, following months of intensive preparations that have culminated in regulatory clearance, health worker training and site readiness assessments across the priority locations.
Health and Child Care Permanent Secretary, Dr Aspect Maunganidze, said the initial pilot phase will also extend to Karoi, Mazowe, Tsholotsho, Kwekwe, Shamva and Gwanda, ensuring early access in districts with high HIV incidence, significant new infections and strong uptake of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
“The Ministry of Health and Child Care has completed key readiness activities, including the development of national guidelines, training manuals and information materials, alongside site readiness assessments,” he said.
“To date, close to 400 health workers have been trained in combination HIV prevention, including the use of Lenacapavir, while data collection tools have been updated to support monitoring.
“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 international confidence in the country’s HIV response systems and its ability to implement complex public health interventions at scale.
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.
Regional health experts say the introduction of long-acting injectable prevention options could significantly alter the trajectory of the epidemic if successfully integrated into existing prevention programmes.
Since Zimbabwe’s selection, preparations have accelerated, leading to the identification of 24 rollout sites for the initial pilot phase, spread across 12 districts.
Dr Maunganidze said the selection of sites was guided by national epidemiological data.
“Zimbabwe continues to consolidate gains in HIV prevention as the Lenacapavir rollout builds momentum ahead of implementation,” he said.
“Twenty-four sites have been identified nationwide, prioritising districts with high HIV incidence and new infections.
“The initial pilot phase will cover Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, Masvingo, Mutare, Chitungwiza, Karoi, Mazowe, Tsholotsho, Kwekwe, Shamva and Gwanda, ensuring early access where the preventive impact will be greatest.”
In this initial phase, it is expected that about 46 500 people will receive the injection.
These include adolescent girls and young women, sex workers, men who have sex with men, pregnant and breastfeeding women and others whose social and economic circumstances heighten their vulnerability.
Lenacapavir, given just twice a year, provides six months of protection per dose.
Its long-acting formulation is expected to address one of the most persistent challenges in HIV prevention – adherence – particularly for individuals who find it difficult to take a daily pill consistently due to stigma, mobility, work patterns or personal circumstances.
Although initial implementation will be limited to selected sites, the Ministry plans to extend the programme to all provinces as additional doses become available.
The phased approach is intended to allow systematic expansion while safeguarding quality of care and ensuring that health systems are not overstretched.
Beyond clinical readiness, Dr Maunganidze said the Ministry of Health and Child Care had intensified efforts to strengthen public awareness and demand for HIV prevention services.
Findings from the 2024 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey show that knowledge of PrEP remains below 50 percent, despite its introduction in 2018.
Awareness is particularly low among groups at highest risk of HIV, underlining the need for more targeted, innovative communication strategies.
To help create demand, the Government is also employing digital tools, including Vimbai, an AI-powered chatbot developed in partnership with the Centre for Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Research (CeSHHAR).
Although originally created for sex workers and women in the age of sex work, Vimbai is now being expanded to reach wider populations in preparation for the Lenacapavir rollout.
The platform provides information on HIV prevention, self-testing and mental health and is already operational in Gweru, one of the districts selected for the pilot.
Health officials say such digital platforms, combined with community-based outreach, are expected to widen access to HIV prevention information and services, particularly for populations that traditionally face barriers to facility-based care.
Dr Maunganidze said insights from the pilot phase would guide national scale-up, with the broader goal of reducing new HIV infections and ensuring Zimbabwe remains aligned with global targets to end AIDS as a public health threat. *_-Sunday Mail_*
