Eswatini Becomes First African Nation to Get Twice-Yearly HIV Prevention Injection
Eswatini Becomes First African Nation to Get Twice-Yearly HIV Prevention Injection
The country, which has the highest incidence of HIV in the world, will receive lenacapavir (LEN) — a US-developed drug that has shown near-total protection against HIV in clinical trials.
The initial rollout will reach roughly 6,000 people at highest risk, with a particular focus on preventing mother-to-child transmission. The first doses are expected to be administered after the official launch on World AIDS Day, 1 December.
In a population of just 1.2 million, more than 200,000 people in Eswatini are living with HIV.
Neighboring South Africa is preparing to follow suit, though concerns remain about whether supply will keep pace with demand once national distribution begins in April 2026.
Developed by Gilead Sciences, LEN has also stirred debate over access and manufacturing rights. Civil society groups reportedly in South Africa have criticized Gilead for excluding local manufacturers from voluntary licensing agreements, despite the country’s major contribution to clinical trials.
Gilead is now seeking regulatory approval in Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.
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