By Mapaballo Borotho
- The Gauteng Department of Health has begun rolling out Lenacapavir, a long-acting HIV prevention injection, in Soweto.
- The injection is administered twice a year and is now available at more than 100 healthcare facilities across the province.
- Health officials have emphasised that Lenacapavir complements existing HIV prevention measures and does not replace interventions such as HIV testing, condom use and STI treatment.
It’s all systems go in Soweto as the Gauteng Department of Health has officially started the rollout of Lenacapavir.
This is a long-acting HIV prevention injection that is administered only twice a year. Now available at more than 100 healthcare facilities across Gauteng, individuals who are at high risk of contracting HIV are encouraged to get the injection.
These include, but are not limited to, sex workers, pregnant women and people who inject drugs.
The Department’s health promotion teams and nurses are currently at Chiawelo Community Health Centre in Soweto, where young people, key populations, sex workers and people who inject drugs, among others, are being initiated on Lenacapavir.
The public needs to understand that Lenacapavir forms part of a comprehensive HIV prevention package and does not replace other critical interventions such as regular HIV testing, condom use, prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections, voluntary medical male circumcision, and treatment for people living with HIV.
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