Zimbabwe Begins Rollout of Long — Acting HIV Prevention Drug. Harare, Zimbabwe — February 22, 2026 Zimbabwe has commenced the rollout of a new long-acting HIV prevention drug, lenacapavir, in a move hailed as a significant step forward in the fight against the virus.
The drug, which requires administration only twice a year, is being offered to high — risk groups including sex workers, adolescent girls, young women, gay men, and pregnant and breastfeeding women.
The initiative, which is part of a broader effort across 10 African countries, is supported by the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Global Fund. Constance Mukoloka, a 27-year-old sex worker, was among the first to receive the injection, expressing relief and confidence in its effectiveness. “I am safe, I can work with confidence now,” Mukoloka.
The drug is expected to reshape HIV prevention strategies in Zimbabwe, where adherence to daily oral PrEP has been a challenge due to stigma and unpredictable schedules. Despite gains in HIV treatment and prevention, new infections remain a concern, particularly among adolescent girls and young women. UNAIDS reported that women and girls accounted for 63 per cent of all new infections in sub-Saharan Africa in 2024.
Health officials and advocates are optimistic about lenacapavir’s potential, though they caution that its impact will depend on overcoming funding constraints and infrastructure gaps.
The Zimbabwean government hopes to expand the program as more donor — funded doses arrive and aims to secure its own supply for a mass rollout.
The authorities expect around 46,000 people across 24 sites to benefit in the initial phase of the rollout.
Dr Ernest Chikwati, Zimbabwe programme director at AIDS Healthcare Foundation, described lenacapavir as a “game-changer “but emphasized that it must complement existing prevention tools, including cheaper options like condoms. Further details on the next phase of the rollout are not yet clear.
The government is hopeful that increased funding will allow for a wider distribution of the drug.
