Zimbabwe has begun rolling out lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable HIV prevention medicine. HIV has led to tens of thousands of deaths over the past two decades in the country. It is one of the first countries to offer a twice-yearly shot providing six months’ protection. The first phase targets about 46 thousand 5 hundred people at high risk. Another phase will follow the second injection after six months.
The injection is offered for free in Zimbabwe to high-risk people such as young women and pregnant or breastfeeding mothers. Authorities show hope that this long-acting HIV drug will slow down new infections. Lenacapavir is developed by California based biopharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences. It is also supported through the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in partnership with the Global Fund.
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