A healthcare worker administers a COVID-19 vaccine injection to a patient’s arm.
Zimbabwe has begun rolling out lenacapavir, a long-acting HIV prevention injection that requires dosing only twice a year, raising hopes for improved protection among high-risk groups. The country is among the first to introduce the drug, which clinical studies suggest offers near-total protection and could transform prevention efforts where adherence to daily pills has proven difficult. Early recipients, including sex workers, say the discreet treatment reduces stigma and fits better with unpredictable lifestyles. The initial phase, supported by PEPFAR and the Global Fund, aims to reach about 46,000 people across 24 sites. However, health officials warn that funding shortages and fragile health systems could slow expansion, even as new infections remain a serious concern.
Africanews