12/08/2026
๐ฟ๐ฆ LENACAPAVIR: A NEW CHAPTER IN HIV PREVENTION FOR SOUTH AFRICA ๐โค๏ธ
South Africa is entering an exciting new chapter in the fight against HIV.
Lenacapavir, a long-acting HIV prevention injection, offers a new option for people who are HIV-negative and want to protect themselves from HIV. Unlike daily oral PrEP, lenacapavir is administered twice a year โ approximately every six months.
The results have been remarkable. In the PURPOSE 1 clinical trial conducted among adolescent girls and young women in South Africa and Uganda, no HIV infections occurred among the 2,134 participants who received twice-yearly lenacapavir.
This is particularly significant for South Africa, a country carrying one of the world's largest HIV burdens. In 2026, South Africa received its first batch of 37,920 doses of lenacapavir for HIV prevention. The country is also exploring opportunities for local production, which could help improve affordability, sustainability and access in South Africa and across the African continent.
๐ก Why does this matter?
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HIV prevention that does not require taking a pill every day
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An injection approximately every six months
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A potentially important option for people who experience challenges with daily PrEP adherence
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A major advancement in long-acting HIV prevention
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An opportunity to strengthen South Africa's HIV prevention response
But scientific breakthroughs only make a difference when people can access them, understand them and feel empowered to use them.
At Isibani Sempilo Yabantu Foundation, we believe that communities must be at the centre of the HIV response. We must continue promoting accurate information, reducing HIV-related stigma, supporting informed choices and ensuring that new HIV prevention technologies reach the people who need them most.
Lenacapavir is not a cure for HIV, and it does not protect against other sexually transmitted infections. It is an HIV prevention option and should be used as part of a comprehensive HIV prevention approach and according to guidance from healthcare professionals.
๐ฟ๐ฆ South Africa has an opportunity to change the trajectory of the HIV epidemic. Let's make sure no one is left behind.
Know your options. Know your status. Protect yourself. End HIV stigma.