Africa Africa Begins Historic Rollout of Groundbreaking HIV-Prevention Injection

The Digest:

South Africa, Eswatini, and Zambia have begun administering the revolutionary twice-yearly injection, Lenacapavir, reported to reduce HIV transmission risk by over 99.9%. This rollout, reported via Linda Ikeji's Blog, explores the dawn of a new era in public health for the continent most burdened by HIV, empowering millions with a potent new form of protection.

Key Points:

• A groundbreaking HIV-prevention injection, Lenacapavir, is being rolled out in South Africa, Eswatini, and Zambia.
• The twice-yearly shot reduces the risk of HIV transmission by more than 99.9%.
• The rollout is part of initiatives funded by Unitaid and the US government.
• In the U.S., the drug costs $28,000 per person annually, but is being provided at no profit for this programme.
• Manufacturer Gilead Sciences will supply doses for up to two million people in high-burden countries.
• Generic versions are expected by 2027 at roughly $40 per year in over 100 countries.
• Eastern and southern Africa bear approximately 52% of the global HIV burden.

This marks a transformative chapter in a persistent fight, offering not just a medical solution but a profound symbol of resilience, a chance to calm one of modern history’s most enduring storms.

Sources: Vanguard, The Digest