Zimbabwe Launches Groundbreaking Long-Acting HIV Prevention Injection in 12 Priority Districts
Key Insights
Zimbabwe will begin phased rollout of Lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injectable HIV (search) prevention drug, in 12 high-priority districts including Harare, Bulawayo, and Chitungwiza this month.
The breakthrough injection provides six months of protection per dose and targets approximately 46,500 people in the initial phase, focusing on adolescent girls, young women, and other vulnerable populations.
Zimbabwe becomes the third African country to adopt this long-acting prevention tool, positioning itself among early-adopting nations globally in next-generation HIV (search) prevention technology.
Zimbabwe will this month begin the phased rollout of Lenacapavir, a revolutionary long-acting HIV (search) prevention injection that protects HIV-negative individuals from contracting the virus. The initiative starts in 12 high-priority health districts and urban centers, marking a significant milestone in the country's fight against new HIV infections.
The rollout will commence in priority areas including Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, Masvingo, Mutare, and Chitungwiza, with additional coverage extending to Karoi, Mazowe, Tsholotsho, Kwekwe, Shamva, and Gwanda. This strategic deployment positions Zimbabwe among a small group of early-adopting countries globally to introduce next-generation HIV (search) prevention tools.
Revolutionary Prevention Technology
Lenacapavir represents a breakthrough in HIV (search) prevention, requiring only two injections per year to provide six months of protection per dose. This long-acting formulation addresses one of the most persistent challenges in HIV prevention – adherence – particularly for individuals who struggle with daily pill consistency due to stigma, mobility, work patterns, or personal circumstances.
Health and Child Care Permanent Secretary Dr. Aspect Maunganidze confirmed that the first doses are expected in the country imminently, following months of intensive preparations including regulatory clearance, health worker training, and site readiness assessments across priority locations.
"The Ministry of Health and Child Care (search) has completed key readiness activities, including the development of national guidelines, training manuals and information materials, alongside site readiness assessments," Dr. Maunganidze stated. "To date, close to 400 health workers have been trained in combination HIV (search) prevention, including the use of Lenacapavir, while data collection tools have been updated to support monitoring."
Strategic Implementation Plan
The initial pilot phase will target approximately 46,500 people, focusing on populations whose social and economic circumstances heighten their vulnerability to HIV (search) infection. Priority groups include adolescent girls and young women, sex workers, men who have sex with men, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and other high-risk populations.
Twenty-four sites have been identified nationwide for the initial rollout, with selection guided by national epidemiological data prioritizing districts with high HIV (search) incidence and new infections. National HIV Prevention Coordinator Getrude Ncube noted that Zimbabwe rapidly approved the new drug and became the third African country to adopt it.
"Since then, we have identified 40 initial rollout sites, completed site readiness assessments, and conducted training of trainers. We are now ready to implement once the doses arrive," Ncube explained.
Global Recognition and Regional Impact
Zimbabwe was selected in August 2025 as one of 10 countries in the region to introduce Lenacapavir through a global early access programme, reflecting international confidence in the country's HIV (search) response systems and ability to implement complex public health interventions at scale.
Southern Africa remains the epicenter of the global HIV (search) epidemic, accounting for a disproportionate share of new infections, particularly among adolescent girls and young women. Regional health experts believe the introduction of long-acting injectable prevention options could significantly alter the epidemic's trajectory if successfully integrated into existing prevention programmes.
Addressing Knowledge Gaps
The rollout comes as findings from the 2024 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey reveal that knowledge of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP (search)) remains below 50 percent, despite its introduction in 2018. Awareness is particularly low among groups at highest risk of HIV (search), highlighting the need for more targeted communication strategies.
To address this challenge, the government is employing digital tools, including Vimbai, an AI-powered chatbot developed in partnership with the Centre for Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Research (search) (CeSHHAR). Originally created for sex workers, Vimbai is being expanded to reach wider populations in preparation for the Lenacapavir rollout, providing information on HIV (search) prevention, self-testing, and mental health.
Future Expansion Plans
Although initial implementation will be limited to selected sites, the Ministry plans to extend the programme to all provinces as additional doses become available. The phased approach allows for systematic expansion while safeguarding quality of care and ensuring health systems are not overstretched.
Dr. Maunganidze emphasized that insights from the pilot phase will guide national scale-up, with the broader goal of reducing new HIV (search) infections and ensuring Zimbabwe remains aligned with global targets to end AIDS (search) as a public health threat.