Zimbabwe becomes one of first countries to begin lenacapavir program

Health authorities in Zimbabwe have officially begun to administer lenacapavir, the long-acting injectable HIV preventative, according to a news release published today by Reuters.

Zimbabwe is now one of the first countries in the world to start a lenacapavir program, which was made possible through funding from the United States government and The Global Fund.

“Today marks an important ⁠day in Zimbabwe’s national ⁠response to HIV,” Health Minister Douglas Mombeshora said in a news release. “We gather here to launch lenacapavir – a long-acting injectable option for HIV prevention – and to show our commitment to protecting life and ending AIDS as ​a public health threat.”

Lenacapavir is a subcutaneous injection given twice a year. Not only does lenacapavir have a near 100% effectiveness rate, but it also eliminates the need for daily oral preexposure prophylaxis pills. It was developed by Gilead Sciences and approved for HIV prevention by the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) in November 2025.

“The rapid approval of lenacapavir reflects MCAZ’s dedication to accelerating access to trusted, high-quality health products,” Richard T. Rukwata, MCAZ Director-General, said in a news release. “This milestone brings new hope for HIV prevention and reinforces our commitment to safeguarding public health.”

Health experts say the twice-yearly injection could be transformative, particularly for individuals who struggle with adherence to a bimonthly injection such as long-acting injectable cabotegravir, which in 2022 Zimbabwe was the first African country to approve. Daily oral PrEP has been highly effective, but uptake has sometimes been limited by stigma, inconsistent access to clinics and the challenge of maintaining daily adherence. By reducing the burden of remembering to take a pill every day, the injectable option may improve consistency and lower the risk of missed doses, which can reduce overall effectiveness.

“While an HIV vaccine remains elusive, lenacapavir is the next best thing: a long-acting antiretroviral shown in trials to prevent almost all HIV infections among those at risk," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Ph.D., MSc, WHO Director-General, said in a July 2025 news release.

The lenacapavir program will initially roll out at 24 sites nationwide, targeting more than 46,000 people who are at high risk of contracting HIV. Priority populations include adolescent girls and young women, sex workers and other vulnerable groups who continue to face disproportionate rates of new infections.

Zimbabwe carries one of the highest HIV burdens globally, with approximately 1.3 million people living with HIV. However, the country has made significant strides in reducing new infections and expanding treatment access. In early 2000, prevalence was at its highest when 34% of the population had HIV. Prevalence is now approximately at 12%.

Zimbabwe has also achieved the 95-95-95 treatment targets set by UNAIDS. This benchmark means that 95% of people living with HIV know their status, 95% of those diagnosed are receiving treatment and 95% of those on treatment have achieved viral suppression.

Since 2003, the Global Fund has invested $1.8 billion into Zimbabwe’s HIV response, with an additional $437 million approved for the 2024 to 2026 funding cycle.