HARARE
–
Zimbabwe
has
been
selected
as
one
of
10
countries
worldwide
to
roll
out
lenacapavir,
a
new
twice-yearly
HIV
prevention
medicine
hailed
as
a
breakthrough
in
the
global
fight
against
the
epidemic.
The
announcement
was
made
by
the
United
States
embassy
in
Harare
on
Tuesday,
describing
the
development
as
a
“major
step
toward
ending
new
infections”
in
the
country.
Lenacapavir,
developed
by
U.S.-based
Gilead
Sciences
in
partnership
with
the
Global
Fund,
is
the
first
HIV
prevention
drug
administered
just
twice
a
year.
In
large-scale
clinical
trials,
more
than
99
percent
of
participants
who
took
the
drug
remained
HIV
negative.
The
U.S.
embassy
said
Zimbabwe’s
rollout
will
prioritise
pregnant
and
breastfeeding
women,
in
an
effort
to
protect
the
next
generation,
while
also
strengthening
the
country’s
health
system
and
making
the
medicine
more
affordable
and
accessible.
“This
is
American
leadership
at
its
best:
driving
innovation,
and
building
a
world
where
children,
mothers,
and
communities
can
thrive,”
the
embassy
said.
Zimbabwe
remains
one
of
the
countries
hardest
hit
by
HIV,
though
infection
rates
have
steadily
declined
over
the
past
two
decades
thanks
to
increased
access
to
antiretroviral
therapy
and
prevention
programmes.
Public
health
experts
say
the
introduction
of
lenacapavir
could
mark
a
turning
point
in
the
fight
against
the
epidemic,
particularly
in
sub-Saharan
Africa
where
new
infections
remain
high.