Gauteng has announced an ambitious plan to place more than 56,000 people on a new long-acting HIV prevention injection as the province begins rolling out Lenacapavir across 133 healthcare facilities from Monday.
The Gauteng Department of Health confirmed that the phased rollout of Lenacapavir (LEN), a twice-yearly injectable form of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), is part of a national HIV prevention programme aimed at reducing new infections and advancing efforts to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
The province said it has been allocated sufficient stock to initiate treatment for 56,079 eligible clients between June 2026 and March 2027, with an initial batch of 18,809 doses already distributed to districts ahead of the launch.
“The rollout forms part of a nationwide initiative led by the National Department of Health and announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa to expand HIV prevention options and accelerate progress towards ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030,” the department said.
Lenacapavir will be introduced at selected facilities across Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, Sedibeng and the West Rand, targeting populations at higher risk of HIV infection.
Officials described Lenacapavir as a major addition to existing prevention tools, offering protection through an injection administered once every six months, compared with daily oral PrEP.
“Lenacapavir is a long-acting injectable form of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) that offers HIV-negative individuals at substantial risk of HIV acquisition an additional prevention choice, complementing existing HIV prevention methods,” the department said.
The rollout will prioritise adolescent girls and young women, adolescent boys and young men, sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender persons, people who inject drugs, and pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Health authorities said extensive preparations had been completed ahead of implementation, including training healthcare workers, pharmacists and programme staff, as well as strengthening monitoring and reporting systems.
To support uptake, the department will also run awareness campaigns through clinics, community dialogues, radio and social media platforms.
“Members of the public who believe they may benefit from HIV prevention services are encouraged to visit participating healthcare facilities for information, HIV testing and screening for eligibility,” the department said.
Officials stressed that the injection does not replace existing HIV prevention methods such as condoms, HIV testing, STI treatment, voluntary medical male circumcision, or treatment for people living with HIV.
The rollout is expected to significantly expand access to modern HIV prevention tools in South Africa’s most populous province as authorities work toward reducing new infections among high-risk groups.
IOL News
