Africa

South Africa's Gauteng surpasses first-month targets for HIV-prevention drug lenacapavir

South Africa's Gauteng Department of Health says it has comfortably surpassed its targets in the first month of rolling out lenacapavir, a groundbreaking HIV-prevention drug. The long-acting injectable is seen as a powerful tool for preventing new HIV infections. The early success is considered a significant milestone for the country's preventive health efforts.

Medicine vials and injection supplies at a health clinic
Medicine vials and injection supplies at a health clinicPhoto: DΛVΞ GΛRCIΛ / Pexels
AllAfrica2 h ago

South Africa's Gauteng Department of Health has announced it reached a significant milestone in its rollout of lenacapavir, a groundbreaking HIV-prevention drug. The department said it comfortably surpassed the targets it had set in the programme's first month.

Lenacapavir is administered as a long-acting injectable and is regarded as an effective way to prevent new HIV infections. Because it requires doses less frequently than a daily pill, it is seen as improving both accessibility and adherence to the programme.

South Africa is among the countries with the world's highest HIV burden. Officials say this early success in distributing the preventive drug is encouraging for goals of reducing new infections and strengthening public health. The programme is expected to expand to other regions in the coming months.

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Source: AllAfrica
This article is an AI-curated summary of the original story published by AllAfrica. The illustration is a stock photo by DΛVΞ GΛRCIΛ from Pexels and is not from the original story.

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