By Charmaine Ndlela
South Africa will officially start the roll out Lenacapavir, a ground-breaking HIV prevention injection, on 5 June in Mpumalanga.
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi announced the rollout while delivering the Department of Health’s Budget Vote on Wednesday, saying the country is now in a strong position to decisively tackle HIV as a public health threat.
“In the next two weeks, we will be delivering Lenacapavir stocks to depots and health facilities. We will be starting with 360 health facilities in the high-burden districts of the country,” Motsoaledi said.
Lenacapavir is administered through an injection twice a year, offering six months of continuous protection per dose. The treatment is seen as a major breakthrough as it provides an alternative to daily HIV prevention tablets and bi-monthly injections.
Studies have shown that the drug reduces HIV transmission risk by 99.9%.
The minister said the rollout will primarily target high-risk groups,
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