By Palesa Matlala
• Gauteng will roll out a new HIV prevention injection at 133 clinics and healthcare facilities, targeting more than 56,000 people by March 2027.
• The jab offers six months of HIV protection at a time, giving people an alternative to taking prevention pills every day.
Gauteng is launching a major new weapon in the fight against HIV.
From Monday, 133 healthcare facilities across the province will begin offering Lenacapavir, a new HIV prevention injection that protects people for six months with a single jab.
Health officials hope the rollout will help stop thousands of new HIV infections and move South Africa closer to ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
The Gauteng Department of Health says enough stock has already been secured to start treatment for 56,079 people between June 2026 and March 2027.
An initial supply of 18,809 doses has already been delivered to districts ahead of the launch.
The programme forms part of a national HIV prevention drive announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Lenacapavir is designed for HIV-negative people who face a higher risk of contracting the virus.
Unlike daily prevention tablets, the new injection only needs to be given twice a year.
Health officials believe this could be a game changer for people who struggle to take medication every day.
The rollout will focus on groups most at risk of HIV infection.
These include adolescent girls and young women, adolescent boys and young men, sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender people, people who inject drugs, and pregnant and breastfeeding women.
The injection will be available at selected facilities in Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, Sedibeng and the West Rand.
The department says months of preparation have gone into the launch.
Healthcare workers, pharmacists and programme staff have been trained, while systems have been strengthened to track patients and monitor results.
Officials will also run awareness campaigns through clinics, community meetings, radio stations and social media to encourage people to come forward.
Health authorities say the new injection gives people another powerful option to protect themselves from HIV and could help save thousands of lives in the years ahead.
Pictured above: Gauteng is rolling out a new HIV prevention injection that provides protection for six months.
Image source: File.
