By Harare, Zimbabwe — 20 February 2026
Zimbabwe has begun rolling out lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable medication for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) administered only twice a year, in what health authorities describe as a major step forward in the country’s HIV prevention programme.
The national launch took place on Thursday, 19 February, at a health facility in Epworth, a densely populated settlement about 12 kilometres south-east of Harare. Minister of Health and Child Care Dr Douglas Mombeshora presided over the event, saying the introduction of the injectable marked an important milestone in the fight against HIV.
“Today marks an important day in Zimbabwe’s national response to HIV. 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,” he said.
Lenacapavir, developed by Gilead Sciences, is administered as a subcutaneous injection every six months. Large Phase-3 clinical trials found the drug reduced the risk of HIV infection by about 96 percent compared with background incidence, with nearly all participants remaining HIV-negative during follow-up.
Health officials say the injectable is expected to overcome several long-standing challenges associated with daily oral PrEP tablets, including adherence difficulties, stigma related to pill-taking, frequent clinic visits and privacy concerns.
Early recipients in Epworth have already expressed interest in the new prevention option. Community leader Melody Dengu, who received the injection earlier this month, said demand is growing in her neighbourhood.
“I have also gotten 12 other people to come and get injected,” she said.
The programme, supported by funding from the United States government and the Global Fund, will initially target more than 46,000 people identified as at high risk of HIV across 24 sites nationwide. Officials say the injection will complement, rather than replace, existing prevention measures such as oral PrEP, condom distribution, voluntary medical male circumcision, antiretroviral therapy and community education initiatives.
Zimbabwe is among the first countries globally to introduce lenacapavir for PrEP at scale following recent international regulatory developments. The World Health Organization recommended the twice-yearly injection in 2025 as an additional prevention option in countries with a high HIV burden and prequalified the medicine through an expedited pathway designed to accelerate national access.
The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe subsequently approved the drug in 2025 using the collaborative registration procedure, allowing for one of the fastest reviews of an HIV prevention product in the country.
Health officials say the new injectable could be particularly beneficial for adolescent girls, young women and other populations facing elevated HIV risk, while emphasising that combination prevention remains essential.
Authorities expect the phased expansion to continue in the coming months as Zimbabwe works toward reducing new infections and ending AIDS as a public health threat.
