By: Xolani Khumalo
The South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) has welcomed the arrival of the first batch of the new HIV prevention drug, Lenacapavir.
The Global Fund has donated 37,920 doses of the long-acting injection, which is administered twice a year to HIV-negative individuals as part of efforts to reduce new infections.
SANAC spokesperson Nelson Dlamini said the council is actively collaborating with key stakeholders to advance discussions on access pathways, including licensing agreements, to enable the local manufacturing of Lenacapavir.
He added that expanding access to innovative prevention tools remains critical in South Africa’s fight against HIV, particularly among high-risk populations.
The introduction of Lenacapavir is expected to strengthen the country’s HIV prevention strategy, offering a more convenient alternative to daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
Meanwhile, The Democratic Alliance (DA), says it’s going to request minister of Heal Aaron Motsoaledi to present to Parliament full roll-out plan and timeline of the Lenacapavir, as well as progress implementstion.
The DA’s Michéle Clarke says this marks a major step forward in the fight against HIV.
