Eswatini Becomes First African Country to Receive New HIV Prevention Injection
By TUW
Eswatini has become the first African country to receive lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injection designed to prevent HIV. The arrival of the medicine marks the start of a wider rollout planned for 10 high-risk African countries under the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in collaboration with the Global Fund.
Lenacapavir, developed by Gilead Sciences, has shown near-total protection in clinical trials. The United States approved the drug earlier this year, and officials said its introduction in Eswatini is the first step in a programme expected to reach at least 2 million people by 2027.
Eswatini, with a population of about 1.2 million people, currently has more than 200,000 people living with HIV. According to local health authorities, roughly 6,000 high-risk individuals will receive the injection in the initial phase, including groups involved in preventing mother-to-child transmission.
Across Africa, more than 25 million people are living with HIV, according to U.S. government data.
U.S. officials initially anticipated distributing 250,000 doses to participating countries this year, but the allocation has been increased to 325,000 due to higher-than-expected early demand. Zambia also received its first shipment on Tuesday, while regulatory approval processes are underway in Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.
The World Health Organization approved lenacapavir in July as an additional HIV prevention option. UNAIDS has noted that long-acting injectables may help expand prevention choices at a time when reduced foreign funding could affect access to HIV services.
South Africa’s health minister, Aaron Motsoaledi, has acknowledged the introduction of lenacapavir but expressed concern about possible supply limitations when South Africa begins its own rollout in April 2026.
