South Africa is set to take a major step forward in its long fight against HIV, with the rollout of lenacapavir, a twice-yearly HIV prevention injection, across hundreds of government clinics in 2026.
According to MedicalBrief, the six-monthly injection is being rolled out across 360 government clinics, with the programme expected to begin from April 2026. The move offers a long-acting alternative to daily prevention options, requiring only two doses a year.
A new tool against HIV
Lenacapavir’s twice-yearly dosing schedule is widely seen as a potential game-changer for prevention, reducing the burden of daily routines for those most at risk. The rollout across 360 government clinics signals one of the country’s most significant public health investments of the year.
For a nation that carries one of the world’s heaviest HIV burdens, the arrival of a convenient, long-acting prevention tool through the public system marks a meaningful milestone.
Momentum on tuberculosis treatment
The HIV rollout comes alongside continued progress in the fight against tuberculosis, where South Africa has been shortening and improving treatment regimens.
The country’s six-month BPAL-L regimen for drug-resistant TB, which began in September 2023, has already benefited more than 7,400 patients, according to MedicalBrief. In 2024, a four-month TB treatment regimen for children was also introduced, easing the journey for younger patients.
Technology is playing a supporting role too. As reported by MOHAC Africa, WhatsApp health bots used in Cape Town townships have lifted TB medication adherence by 35% by reminding patients of their clinic days, helping people stay on track with their treatment.
Looking to the future
There is also hope on the horizon for TB prevention. Two leading TB vaccine candidates, M72/AS01E and MTBVAC, are expected to report results in 2028-2029. The M72/AS01E candidate has shown 50% protection in trials so far.
Together, the lenacapavir rollout, shorter TB regimens, digital adherence tools and promising vaccine research point to a public health agenda focused on making prevention and treatment more effective and more accessible for South Africans.
As these programmes scale up through 2026, they reflect a steady, evidence-led push to ease the burden of two of the country’s most pressing health challenges.
Photo: mohacafrica.org
Leave a Reply