Federal Government of Nigeria don announce say dem go begin roll out new long-acting HIV prevention injection wey dem dey call Lenacapavir. Dis announcement come as 52,000 doses of di drug don arrive Nigeria for di first phase of di program. Di Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, tok say dis move na part of government plan to end HIV/AIDS as public health threat by 2030.
Salako make dis announcement on Monday during media parley wey National HIV, Viral Hepatitis and STDs Control Programme under Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare organize for Abuja. Di minister explain say Nigeria government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remain committed to ending HIV/AIDS through comprehensive approach wey go focus on prevention, treatment, and care services.
Nigeria don join nine early adopter countries wey Global Fund select to introduce Lenacapavir for pre-exposure prophylaxis. Rollout for dis new injection go begin by January 2026. Salako reveal say about 52,000 doses of di injectable drug don dey available to support di initial phase of implementation.
Lenacapavir na long-acting antiretroviral wey dem dey administer once every six months. Dis new method represent major shift from daily oral PrEP regimens wey many pipo dey find difficult to follow, especially among high-risk populations. Nigeria get di second-largest HIV epidemic for di world, with estimated 1.9 million pipo wey dey live with HIV according to data from National Agency for the Control of AIDS.
Although HIV prevalence don reduce for recent years, new infections still remain major public health concern for di country. Experts say prevention remain di weakest link for Nigeria HIV response. While oral PrEP don dey available before, many pipo no dey use am well because of stigma, access problems, and difficulties with daily adherence.
Health economists warn say if Nigeria no improve prevention strategies, di country fit continue to get new infections wey go put more pressure on treatment resources wey already dey limited. Salako tok say di introduction of Lenacapavir represent major advancement for HIV prevention, especially for key and vulnerable populations.
“One of such advancements na di introduction of long-acting injectable PrEP, wey go expand Nigeria HIV prevention toolkit and provide additional prevention options for individuals wey dey at substantial risk of HIV acquisition,” Salako explain.
National Coordinator of National AIDS and STDs Control Programme, Adebobola Bashorun, also tok for di event say Federal Government dey work toward expanding access to di drug across more states. “As we dey scale up, we dey explore catalytic funding to increase di number of doses and extend coverage to populations most at risk,” Bashorun disclose.
Bashorun note say Lenacapavir go complement, no go replace, existing HIV prevention methods like oral pre-exposure prophylaxis. “We already get multiple prevention options. Individuals fit still use oral PrEP. National policy guidelines go determine how best to integrate dis new option into existing programmes,” im add.
About safety concerns, Bashorun explain say reported side effects don dey mild and largely limited to injection-site reactions. “Di common side effects include pain for di injection site, wey na wetin we expect. We dey actively monitor for any adverse reactions and so far, di outcomes dey encouraging,” im tok.
Salako earlier highlight say di introduction of Lenacapavir for Nigeria dey happen through support from Global Fund. “Dis drug dey made available through partnership with Global Fund. Over time, we expect to engage manufacturers directly and explore pathways for local production,” Salako say.
Di minister add say discussions around technology transfer and domestic manufacturing go dey critical to ensure long-term sustainability and reduce dependence on external donors. Dis development come as Nigeria continue to battle HIV epidemic wey don affect millions of citizens across di country.
Di new injection method go provide alternative for pipo wey dey find daily pill-taking difficult. Health officials believe say dis innovation go help increase prevention uptake and reduce new HIV infections for Nigeria. Di rollout plan go involve training healthcare workers and creating awareness among communities wey dey most affected.
As Nigeria prepare for di January 2026 rollout, stakeholders dey hopeful say dis new prevention tool go contribute significantly to di country goal to end HIV/AIDS as public health threat by 2030. Di success of dis program go depend on proper implementation, community engagement, and sustained funding from both government and international partners.
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