LEN Rollout Boosts HIV Prevention Efforts

By Colleta Bell

Zimbabwe’s HIV prevention programme is set to expand, with the United States supporting the national introduction of lenacapavir, a long-acting HIV prevention drug aimed at reducing new infections.

Speaking at the launch event yesterday, United States Deputy Chief of Mission Phillip Nervig said the U.S. government plans to support 271,000 people with lenacapavir over the next three years, with projections of preventing more than 9,000 new HIV infections.

Lenacapavir, developed by Gilead Sciences, is administered twice a year and is designed to improve adherence, particularly among young women, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, and other high-risk groups.

The United States says it has provided more than 1.9 billion US dollars to Zimbabwe’s HIV response to date, contributing to progress toward the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets.

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