Zimbabwe has initiated the administration of the long-acting cabotegravir (CAB-LA) HIV prevention drug, marking a potential shift from daily pills to a more convenient injection given once every two months.

The first injection was administered to a woman at the New Start Centre in Harare on April 10, signifying a milestone in HIV prevention efforts.

Population Solutions for Health expressed enthusiasm, stating, “We are thrilled to have welcomed our first recipient of care for the life-changing injectable CAB-LA at New Start Centre in Harare. This biomedical HIV prevention option for PrEP offers a convenient and potent means of preventing HIV transmission.”

Zimbabwe led the way in Africa by announcing regulatory approval for injectable cabotegravir in November of the previous year. The World Health Organization (WHO) supports offering CAB-LA to individuals at high risk of HIV infection as part of comprehensive prevention strategies.

Studies have demonstrated the safety, tolerability, and high efficacy of CAB-LA injections every two months in reducing the risk of HIV acquisition.

CAB-LA joins the ranks of other WHO-recommended HIV prevention products, including tenofovir-based oral PrEP (2015) and the dapivirine vaginal ring (2021).

Previously approved only in high-income countries like the United States and Australia, CAB-LA’s introduction in Zimbabwe marks a significant advancement in HIV prevention on the African continent.

Zimbabwe’s efforts against HIV have yielded remarkable results, with AIDS-related deaths plummeting from an estimated 130,000 in 2002 to 20,000 in 2021, underscoring the nation’s commitment to combatting the epidemic.