Nigeria receives groundbreaking twice-yearly HIV prevention injection, Lenacapavir

Nigeria has achieved a significant milestone in its HIV response with the official arrival of Lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable drug designed to prevent HIV infection.

The shipment, approved by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, and supported by the Global Fund, bolsters the country’s arsenal of innovative prevention strategies.

Lenacapavir serves as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), offering a convenient alternative to daily oral pills. Administered just twice a year, it provides sustained protection for individuals at risk, a move health experts believe could dramatically improve adherence among populations facing barriers to daily treatment.

Dr. Adebobola Bashorun, National Coordinator of the National HIV, Viral Hepatitis and STDs Control Programme (NASCP), confirmed that the delivery reflects Nigeria’s commitment to evidence-based innovation in the race to control the epidemic.

“By expanding prevention options and strengthening service delivery, we are taking decisive steps to reduce new HIV infections and improve health outcomes across the country,” Bashorun stated.

He added that NASCP, in collaboration with partners, is working to ensure the safe rollout and seamless integration of Lenacapavir into national HIV prevention programs.

“Together, Nigeria moves closer to ending HIV as a public health threat,” he said.

Under voluntary licensing agreements with generic manufacturers, Lenacapavir is expected to be accessible in Nigeria and 119 other low- and middle-income countries at an affordable annual cost of $40 per person.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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