The Federal Government is set to introduce Lenacapavir, a groundbreaking twice-yearly injection for HIV prevention, with supplies due to arrive next month – a potential game-changer to assist in addressing high infection rates.
The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) announced the development in a statement on Monday.
Head of Public Relations of NACA Toyin Aderibigbe said this signals the government’s renewed push to bolster prevention efforts and hasten the end of the epidemic.
Lenacapavir provides an injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) option administered just twice a year, contrasting sharply with daily oral pills that have struggled with low adherence worldwide despite dominating prevention strategies for over a decade.
Clinical trials have demonstrated near-100% efficacy, positioning it as a revolutionary tool, especially after regulatory approval from National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration And Control NAFDAC.
NACA has completed landscape and readiness assessments in 10 priority states – Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Benue, Cross River, Ebonyi, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Gombe, Kano, Kwara and Lagos – to gauge service capacity and pinpoint rollout needs.
Further steps include national trainer programmes, step-down sessions for healthcare workers, and development of educational materials to drive uptake in these high-burden areas.
