By Staff Reporter
PRETORIA – South Africa has taken a decisive step in the fight against HIV with the arrival of the first 37 920 doses of the breakthrough prevention drug, Lenacapavir — a six-monthly injectable hailed as a potential game-changer in curbing new infections.
The Department of Health confirmed the shipment landed in the country on 2 April, with the announcement made on Tuesday, 7 April, signalling renewed momentum in efforts to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
Health department spokesperson Foster Mohale said the long-acting injectable is expected to significantly expand prevention options and improve adherence, particularly among high-risk and vulnerable groups.
These include adolescent girls and young women, sex workers, and men who have sex with men — populations that often face barriers to consistent use of existing prevention methods.
“Lenacapavir represents one of the most significant advances in HIV prevention in recent years.
“It will strengthen South Africa’s ability to reduce new infections and sustain the HIV response beyond 2030, in line with the Global AIDS Strategy for 2026–2030,” Mohale said.
Unlike a vaccine, Lenacapavir is a preventive treatment administered twice a year, offering a long-acting alternative to daily oral medication — a shift experts say could dramatically improve uptake and consistency.
The drug will form part of a broader, integrated and people-centred HIV prevention strategy aimed at reaching those most at risk.
While the department has yet to formally launch the programme, officials say rollout plans are at an advanced stage, with further details expected in the coming weeks.
The arrival of Lenacapavir marks a critical turning point in South Africa’s HIV response, raising hopes that the country can sharply bend the curve of new infections and move closer to ending the epidemic within the next decade.
