The Ministry of Health is set to roll out the countrywide use of Lenacapavir injection at Lira Regional Referral Hospital.
In July last year, the World Health Organization (WHO) released guidelines recommending the use of injectable lenacapvir(LEN) twice a year as an additional pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) option for HIV prevention.
Emmanuel Ainebyona, the Communications Manager, Ministry of Health, says the Ministry will prioritize districts that lead in the spread of HIV and those with high-risk or key populations.
He said that health workers will be tasked with investigating any person that will be asking to be given the drug before being injected, adding that the injection is not a vaccine and will be administered twice every year.
Meanwhile, the Ministry selected three districts in the Ankole sub-region to begin the rollout of the injection Lenacapavir and these are Kazo, Mbarara, and Ibanda.
The rollout in Ankole will be carried out at Kazo Health Center IV, Bufunda Health Center IV in Ibanda, and Bwizibwera Health Center IV in Mbarara District, and other 120 health facilities across the country.
Dr. Edgar Kansiime, the Kazo District Health Officer, says that the long-acting injection will improve adherence and reduce the burden of daily tablets, but also urges the public not to shy away from existing prevention methods, such as condom use.
The rollout of the injection comes at a time when Uganda has over 1,500,000 people living with HIV, including 930,000 women, 570,000 men, and 71,000 children.
GOVERNMENT SET TO ROLL OUT HIV DRUG INJECTION
