Kenya begins rollout of breakthrough HIV prevention drug Lenacapavir

Kenya has begun administering the first dose of the groundbreaking HIV prevention drug Lenacapavir in a Nairobi slum, marking a significant step in the country’s fight against the virus.

The long-acting drug, taken twice yearly, has been shown to reduce the risk of HIV transmission by more than 99.9 per cent. Although widely described as a breakthrough in HIV prevention, lenacapavir is technically a chemical drug rather than a vaccine because it does not train the immune system.

Speaking at the rollout ceremony, Kenya’s Health Minister Aden Duale described the development as a major milestone in the country’s public health response.

“Today is a moment of hope for thousands of Kenyan families,” he said.

Kenya is among nine African countries selected to introduce the drug, which has already been rolled out in South Africa, Eswatini, and Zambia since December.

About 1.3 million people are currently living with HIV in Kenya, with infection rates highest among young people aged 15 to 24.

Duale said the drug would be provided free of charge to eligible recipients, noting that the innovation offers renewed hope in the national effort to reduce new infections.

Last week, Kenya received an initial shipment of 21,000 doses through a partnership involving Gilead Sciences and the The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Health workers say the twice-yearly injection offers greater convenience and privacy compared to daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), which requires regular clinic visits.

The rollout comes at a time when several African countries are facing challenges in sustaining HIV/AIDS programmes following cuts in United States health assistance.