The Eastern Cape has begun offering a new long-acting HIV prevention injection, lenacapavir, as officials intensify efforts to reduce new infections and accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer. The medicine was officially unveiled at the launch of the Lenacapavir HIV Prevention and Cervical Cancer Elimination Strategy in KwaNoxolo, Nelson Mandela Bay.
What the rollout involves
Lenacapavir is administered by a healthcare provider as an injection about every six months. Provincial Health MEC Ntandokazi Capa said the injection offers an additional prevention option for people at risk of acquiring HIV and forms part of South Africa’s combination HIV prevention programme.
“We are inviting everyone to come and test. If you are HIV-negative, then we will give you the injection. It is a landmark process that can help the country manage HIV infection,”
At the time of the launch, the province reported that it had initiated approximately 3 500 people on lenacapavir and encouraged more eligible residents to access the medicine at designated public health facilities.
Who is being prioritised — and why it matters
The campaign places emphasis on young people and sex workers among other groups who may have a higher risk of HIV exposure. Combining prevention options — such as testing, oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and now a long-acting injectable — allows services to meet different needs and life circumstances, particularly for people who find daily pills difficult to maintain.
- Target groups: young people, sex workers and other individuals at risk of HIV acquisition.
- Schedule: injection every six months (twice a year), administered by a healthcare provider.
- Complementary services: HIV and tuberculosis testing, HPV vaccination, cervical cancer screening and timely treatment.
Supply, costs and sustainability
MEC Capa acknowledged that lenacapavir is an expensive medicine, but said donor support has enabled the provincial rollout. She cautioned that the continued pace of the programme will depend on the ongoing availability of doses.
The provincial health department said it has sufficient doses available at the launch to begin the programme and will monitor supply as demand grows. No additional figures on anticipated procurement, long-term funding or exact lists of participating facilities were released at the event; the MEC urged residents to consult public clinics for details.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| People initiated | ~3 500 |
| Dosing frequency | Every 6 months |
| Key linked services | HIV/TB testing, HPV vaccination, cervical screening |
Practical information for residents
Residents who wish to consider lenacapavir should first test for HIV at a public facility. According to the MEC, people who are HIV-negative and meet clinical eligibility criteria will be offered the injection at designated sites. The province has a list of facilities that provide the service; people are advised to contact their nearest public clinic or the provincial health department for the most up-to-date information on participating centres.
Health services being promoted alongside the new injection include cervical cancer screening and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination. Integrating these services aims to reduce both new HIV infections and the burden of cervical cancer, a preventable disease that remains a leading cause of cancer-related illness among women in many parts of South Africa.
Policy context and community impact
South Africa’s approach to HIV prevention has relied on a combination of biomedical and behavioural interventions. The addition of a long-acting injectable expands choices for prevention and may particularly benefit people facing barriers to daily oral medication adherence. For communities in the Eastern Cape — where public health resources are often stretched and travel to clinics can be challenging — a twice-yearly injection could improve continuity of prevention.
At the same time, sustainability hinges on reliable supply chains and continued funding. The provincial government noted donor support for the initial rollout but said the programme’s pace will be shaped by dose availability going forward.
Residents seeking more information should visit their nearest public clinic, request HIV testing, and ask whether their facility offers lenacapavir. Health workers will be able to advise about eligibility, possible side effects, and linkage to related services such as HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening.
The lenacapavir programme represents a notable shift in prevention strategy in the Eastern Cape — one that aims to broaden options and bring together HIV prevention with reproductive health measures to protect the province’s most vulnerable populations.
