Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa in Bulawayo
ZIMBABWE is intensifying efforts to curb new HIV infections through a combination of prevention strategies, with the recently introduced long-acting injectable HIV prevention drug, Lenacapavir, emerging as a promising addition to the country’s arsenal.
Speaking at the Second Lenacapavir/HIV Prevention Media Capacity Building Workshop in Bulawayo, Mrs Gertrude Ncube, the Ministry of Health and Child Care National HIV Prevention Coordinator in the AIDS and TB Programme, said Zimbabwe continues to strengthen combination HIV prevention interventions while expanding access to new biomedical technologies.
The media training was facilitated by the Organisation for Public Health Interventions and Development (OPHID), the Ministry of Health and Child Care and the Health Communicators Forum, with support from the United States Government.
Mrs Ncube said Lenacapavir, which was officially launched in Zimbabwe in February this year, has generated significant interest among communities, particularly men, who have traditionally been difficult to attract to HIV prevention programmes.
“We launched Lenacapavir in February and the response has been encouraging. We are seeing unprecedented interest from men, something we have not witnessed with many previous HIV prevention interventions,” she said.
Lenacapavir is a long-acting injectable form of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) administered twice a year to HIV-negative individuals to reduce their risk of acquiring HIV.
Mrs Ncube said the new drug complements, rather than replaces, existing HIV prevention methods that have played a critical role in reducing infections over the years.
“Condoms remain one of the most effective and affordable HIV prevention tools available. We should not abandon them simply because newer options have become available. They continue to protect against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections and remain accessible to everyone,” she said.
She said Zimbabwe’s HIV prevention strategy is built on a combination approach that includes condom use, HIV testing, prevention of mother-to-child transmission, voluntary medical male circumcision, oral PrEP, HIV self-testing and long-acting prevention products.
Mrs Ncube stressed that HIV testing remains the gateway to prevention, treatment and care services.
“HIV testing is the entry point to everything. People need to know their status so that they can access prevention services if they are HIV negative or begin treatment early if they are HIV positive,” she said.
She noted that Zimbabwe was among the pioneering countries that demonstrated the feasibility and effectiveness of HIV self-testing, a model that has since been adopted by many countries around the world.
Mrs Ncube said the country has made remarkable progress in treatment coverage, with approximately 1.3 million people living with HIV currently receiving antiretroviral therapy.
She added that treatment itself has become a powerful prevention tool.
“When people living with HIV are diagnosed early and placed on treatment, they can achieve viral suppression, which significantly reduces the risk of transmitting the virus to others. Treatment is prevention,” she said.
Mrs Ncube also highlighted Zimbabwe’s commitment to eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV, describing it as one of the country’s flagship programmes.
“We are working towards achieving triple elimination targets and ensuring that children born to HIV-positive mothers remain HIV-free through effective prevention and treatment interventions,” she said.
The Ministry has also continued expanding access to oral PrEP, which is now available in every district across the country.
Mrs Ncube said oral PrEP remains particularly important for adolescents, young women, sero-discordant couples, pregnant and breastfeeding women, key populations and other individuals at substantial risk of HIV infection.
She revealed that researchers are also making progress on a monthly HIV prevention pill currently undergoing advanced clinical trials, which could further improve adherence and convenience for users.
Meanwhile, OPHID technical advisor Dr Pugie Chimberengwa described Lenacapavir as a breakthrough in HIV prevention, citing evidence showing near-total protection against HIV infection among HIV-negative individuals.
“This is a twice-yearly long-acting injectable medicine that offers more than 99 percent protection against HIV acquisition according to major clinical trials. It is one of the most significant developments in HIV prevention in recent years,” he said.
Dr Chimberengwa emphasised that Lenacapavir should be viewed as part of a broader package of prevention options rather than a standalone solution.
“There is no single prevention method that suits everyone. HIV prevention is about offering people choices so that they can select the method that best fits their circumstances and lifestyle,” he said.
He said that despite growing excitement around Lenacapavir, other prevention interventions remain essential and will continue to play a critical role in reducing new HIV infections.
Zimbabwe has made significant progress in the fight against HIV over the past two decades, recording substantial declines in HIV prevalence and AIDS-related deaths.
He said continued investment in prevention, testing and treatment programmes will be crucial if the country is to achieve its goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
