Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Health Reporter
GOVERNMENT is set to significantly expand access to the new HIV prevention drug, Lenacapavir in Manicaland, with Mutare, Chipinge and Buhera among the districts earmarked for rollout in the second phase of the programme beginning next month.
The development will increase access to one of the world’s most promising HIV prevention interventions, which provides long-lasting protection through just two injections a year.
Ministry of Health and Child Care, National HIV Prevention Coordinator (AIDS and TB Programme), Mrs Getrude Ncube said Government is preparing for a nationwide scale-up following encouraging results from the initial phase.
“In Phase Two, which runs from July to December this year, Government anticipates scaling out Lenacapavir to other districts, including Mutare, Chipinge and Buhera in Manicaland. At present, Rusape General Hospital is the only site in Manicaland implementing the programme, but guided by lessons learnt during Phase One, we are now preparing to extend implementation to many more districts,” said Mrs Ncube, adding that the expansion comes as Zimbabwe intensifies efforts to reduce new HIV infections and broaden prevention options for people at substantial risk of acquiring HIV.
Mrs Ncube said Phase One covered 12 health facilities nationally, and targeted between 1 300 and 3 500 initiations. The programme is now expected to grow substantially.
“We anticipate increasing the number of facilities from 12 to between 60 and 80 sites countrywide during Phase Two, with approximately 22 000 people expected to be initiated on Lenacapavir,” she said, adding that the ministry has already received 1 920 initiation packs, while a further 46 080 packs are expected between June and November to support the expansion.
Figures presented during the workshop showed that Rusape General Hospital had been allocated a target of 176 clients in Phase One, and by early June, had initiated 110 people.
The sites were selected based on high HIV incidence and numbers of new infections, strong pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake, large numbers of people living with HIV not yet on treatment, and districts where male antiretroviral therapy coverage remains low.
Mrs Ncube said the long-term goal is nationwide availability.
“Phase Three, which is expected to commence from January 2027 onwards, will see Lenacapavir scaled up to all 63 districts in Zimbabwe,” she said.
The expansion is likely to be welcomed in Manicaland, one of the provinces that continues to record a significant HIV burden and where health authorities have been promoting a range of prevention interventions targeting adolescents, young women, key populations and other vulnerable groups. Ministry of Health and Child Care HIV Prevention Officer, Dr Idah Moyo said Lenacapavir provides an additional prevention option that complements, rather than replaces, existing methods.
“Lenacapavir is a long-acting HIV prevention medicine available as an injection and oral tablets. The injectable form is administered under the skin and gradually releases medicine into the body over time, providing long-lasting protection against HIV infection,” said Dr Moyo.
She explained that oral tablets are used only during initiation, while the injectable form requires just two doses a year, making it one of the most convenient prevention methods available.
“The medicine works by preventing HIV from establishing infection in the body. Its greatest advantage is that it offers sustained protection with only two injections annually,” said Dr Moyo, stressing that communities must receive accurate information on all available prevention methods to enable informed choices.
“People should receive clear and easy-to-understand information about every prevention option available to them. Healthcare workers have a responsibility to support individuals in choosing the HIV prevention method that best suits their needs, preferences and lifestyles,” she said, adding that Lenacapavir and other long-acting options such as Cabotegravir Long-Acting (CAB-LA) were broadening the country’s HIV prevention toolkit.
“The focus should always remain on informed choice. No one should feel pressured into using a particular method. Different prevention options exist because different people have different circumstances and preferences,” said Dr Moyo.
OPHID technical director, Dr Pugie Chimberengwa described Lenacapavir as one of the most significant developments in HIV prevention in recent years, citing international studies showing exceptionally high levels of protection among HIV-negative individuals.
“This is a twice-yearly long-acting injectable HIV prevention medicine that has demonstrated near-total protection against HIV acquisition in major clinical trials,” said Dr Chimberengwa, adding that the intervention is particularly important for people who may struggle with daily oral medication, but emphasised that it forms part of a broader package of services.
“There is no single prevention method that suits everyone. The goal is to provide people with a range of effective options and allow them to choose what works best for them,” he said.
