Federal Government don warn Nigerians say make dem no see the new HIV prevention injection wey dem dey call Lenacapavir as license to dey do risky sex. The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, talk say the injection wey person go take once every six months na “game changer” for Nigeria fight against HIV, but e no mean say people suppose stop to use condom or other prevention methods.
Dr Salako yarn this one during pre-rollout meeting with journalists for Abuja on Monday. Im talk say Nigeria don select as one of nine early-adopter countries for the drug, with about 52,000 doses wey don already arrive to support the initial rollout wey go start by 2026. The minister explain say the long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) na major milestone for Nigeria HIV response and e fit transform prevention efforts, especially for high-risk and hard-to-reach populations.
“One of those advancements na the introduction of long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis, wey dey expand Nigeria HIV prevention toolkit and provide additional prevention options for people wey dey at substantial risk of HIV infection,” Dr Salako talk. Im stress say the innovation go help to reduce new HIV infections quick quick, improve access to prevention services, and cut long-term treatment costs.
The minister talk say the initial rollout go cover eight states: Anambra, Ebonyi, Gombe, Kwara, Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Benue, plus the Federal Capital Territory. Im explain say dem select these places based on programmatic data and transmission patterns. Dr Salako talk say the injection no go replace existing prevention methods but go complement them. “Lenacapavir go complement existing HIV prevention options, including oral PrEP and long-acting injectable Cabotegravir, to enable people to choose methods wey align with their preferences and risk profiles,” im add.
To support the rollout, Federal Ministry of Health don develop Rapid Advice guideline and National PrEP Implementation Plan for 2025–2028 to coordinate scale-up across the country. According to the minister, the framework cover “governance, service delivery, supply chain management, demand creation, human resource capacity, financing, sustainability, and community engagement.” Dr Salako talk say extensive preparatory work, including regulatory approvals, training of health workers, supply chain strengthening, and community engagement, don already finish.
The Director of Public Health for the ministry, Dr. Charles Nzelu, warn Nigerians say make dem no misinterpret the drug. “People go say I don take the drug, so I now get license to indulge in risky behaviour.’ Please, this drug no be substitute. Do all the other prevention methods,” Dr Nzelu talk. Im explain say while the drug twice-yearly dosage go improve adherence, people must still use am alongside other preventive strategies.
Also, the Director-General of National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr. Temitope Ilori, emphasise say the drug no protect against other infections or unintended pregnancies. “E no prevent sexually transmitted infections, e no prevent hepatitis, and e no prevent unwanted pregnancies. E no be cure; e na prevention method,” Dr Ilori talk. Im add say the drug currently no recommended for pregnant women despite im high safety profile for global studies.
The Director and National Coordinator of National AIDS and STIs Control Programme (NASCP) for Nigeria, Dr. Adebobola Bashorun, talk say the injection “not yet a cure, but a preventive drug wey dem dey take twice a year.” The Chief Executive Officer of Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria (IHVN), Dr. Patrick Dakum, also describe the new intervention as “a game-changer” for Nigeria HIV response.
Dr Dakum, wey dem represent by Director of Special Projects for IHVN, Dr. Aderonke Agbaje, emphasise say Len PrEP no be replacement but addition to Nigeria HIV prevention arsenal. “While daily oral PrEP don save countless lives, adherence don remain challenge due to stigma, access, and the need for daily dosing. Len PrEP offer discreet, convenient alternative with just two injections a year. This one especially vital for our key and vulnerable populations wey fit struggle with daily pills,” im talk.
Dr Agbaje add say IHVN dey support the rollout through comprehensive, system-integrated approach, dey work alongside Federal Ministry of Health and National AIDS and STI Control Programme (NASCP). According to am, key strategies include: integrating Len PrEP into One-Stop Shops, key population-friendly facilities, and selected public health centres to ensure accessibility and sustainability.
Other strategies na training healthcare workers and peer educators through national programmes and digital platforms like Instrat VTR for continuous learning, partnering with civil society and community networks to promote accurate messaging, reduce stigma, and drive uptake, ensuring product integrity through secure warehousing, last-mile distribution, and traceability systems, using tools like ClientShot to track client experience, inform quality improvement, and guide adaptive implementation.
Development partners, including Global Fund, describe Nigeria selection as early adopter as vote of confidence for the country HIV response capacity and pledge to continue supporting Nigeria to scale up access based on evidence from the initial rollout. The Federal Government talk say dem dey target to end new HIV infections by 2030, and this new injection na major part of that strategy.
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor @ nnn.ng
