By Health Reporter
A second phase of the Lenacapavir roll out is set to commence in the year’s third quarter as the country ups the game towards HIV prevention.
The plans are part of build up efforts to the first phase unveiled in February 2026 which saw about 46 000 people receiving the twice-yearly injectable at 11 sites in high HIV incidence districts.
Health and Child Care Secretary Dr Aspect Maunganidze this week told the media that the next phase would be guided by data and lessons drawn from the pilot rollout.
“The next phase of rollout is planned in line with increased supply and will target additional districts and facilities based on HIV burden, equity considerations and potential public health impact. This expansion will build on lessons from the initial phase to ensure a more efficient and sustainable scale-up,” he said.
Lenacapavir, developed by Gilead Sciences in partnership with the Global Fund, is the world’s first twice-yearly HIV prevention drug and is expected to significantly transform the country’s pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) landscape.
Zimbabwe was selected in August 2025 as one of 10 countries to introduce the drug under a global early access programme and has since moved quickly to operationalise its rollout following regulatory approval.
Developed by Gilead Sciences, the drug is over 96% effective for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and is being rolled out to high-risk groups, including young women, via public health clinics, often funded by PEPFAR and the Global Fund.
It is a twice-yearly (every 6 months) injection, reducing the burden of daily oral PrEP pills. Initially, the program aims to reach over 46,000 people at high risk of HIV infection across 24 sites nationwide.
The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) authorized it in November 2025 using a fast-track World Health Organization (WHO) collaborative procedure. It is approved for individuals who are HIV-negative and weigh at least 35 kg, including pregnant and breastfeeding women.
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