By Smile Hamilton Malawi
More than 2,000 people in Malawi have already received the long-acting HIV prevention injection, Lenacapavir, since its rollout earlier this month.
The Ministry of Health’s HIV Prevention Coordinator, Martin Kapito, told Zodiak Online on Friday that the number of people visiting health facilities to access the injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is increasing every day.
Kapito said the growing demand reflects increased public awareness and confidence in the new HIV prevention method, which is expected to strengthen the country’s efforts to reduce new HIV infections.
Health rights advocate Maziko Matemba welcomed the introduction of Lenacapavir, saying the medicine has the potential to significantly reduce the number of new HIV infections in Malawi if more people at risk embrace it.
Lenacapavir is a long-acting injectable form of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) that is administered only twice a year, offering a more convenient alternative to daily HIV prevention pills.
The Ministry of Health says the injections are now available at health facilities across the country as part of efforts to expand access to effective HIV prevention services.
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