By: Buhle Mbhele
President Cyril Ramaphosa says government will allocate R1.3 billion towards the rollout of Lenacapavir, a new long-acting injectable HIV prevention treatment.
He says the programme aims to reach close to one million people by 2027 as part of South Africa’s ongoing efforts to reduce new HIV infections and strengthen prevention strategies.
Ramaphosa made the announcement during his keynote address at the launch of the injectable HIV prevention treatment in Secunda, Mpumalanga.
The President says government remains committed to expanding access to life-saving medicines through affordable generic alternatives, technology transfer agreements and increased local pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity.
Ramaphosa says broadening access to innovative HIV prevention tools is critical to achieving the country’s public health goals and reducing the burden of HIV, particularly among vulnerable and high-risk populations.
He adds that partnerships between government, the private sector, research institutions and international stakeholders will play a key role in ensuring the successful rollout of the treatment and improving healthcare outcomes for South Africans.
