WHO Approves Rollout of Injectable HIV Prevention Drug, Kenya Picked for Trials
- The World Health Organisation stated that it was working in collaboration with the World Health Organisation to ensure that the HIV prevention drug is available in Kenya by 2026
- Kenya is among the nine countries that have been selected to assist with the trials of the HIV prevention drugs
- The Ministry of Health explained how the injectable drug is set to be used with those who are highly exposed to contracting the virus
Education is Your Right! Don’t Let Social Norms Hold You Back. Learn Online with TUKO. Enroll Now!
Faith Chandianya, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and Current Affairs in Kenya
Kenya is among the countries that have been picked for the trials of the injectable HIV prevention drug which has been rolled out by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Source: Getty Images
According to the Ministry of Health, it is working in collaboration with various partners to ensure that the drug identified as Lenacapavir is available in Kenya by January 2026.
"Kenya has been selected as one of the nine early adopter countries for the rollout of Lenacapavir. @MOH_Kenya through @NASCOP," the statement read in part.
How will injectable HIV drug be used?
Lenacapavir is a form of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PREP) that is administered twice a year for HIV prevention.
The health ministry stated that only two doses are required in one year. It was designed to be an alternative to the daily pills.
"Designed to be discreet and convenient, and it helps fight stigma. This strategic initiative marks a significant step toward our goal of ending HIV/AIDS by 2030, making this vision an increasingly attainable target," the statement further read.
Why did WHO endorse the drug?
The World Health Organisation (WHO) endorsed the HIV prevention drug at the beginning of the week, endorsing it as a precautionary measure for people who are at high risk of contracting the virus.
The inaugural announcement was made during the 13th International AIDS Society Conference (IAS 2025) on HIV Science in Kigali, Rwanda.
The drug was also designed to help reduce the stigma that comes with the daily use of HIV prevention tablets.
This new development comes at a time when there has been a surge in HIV infections, with 1.3 million cases reported in 2024.
Have HIV infections spiked in Kenya?
Kenya struggled with disruptions to its HIV/AIDS response after the president of the United States, Donald Trump, ordered a freeze on foreign aid through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The US had been assisting Kenya in its public health sector through its investments of over 1.2 trillion in HIV/AIDS interventions.
Source: Getty Images
The abrupt freezing of funds caused a setback with the distribution of condoms, which are mostly used in the country for HIV prevention.
Medical personnel argued that Kenya's progress toward the '95-95-95' HIV treatment targets was under serious threat, with fears of the resurgence of HIV and growing treatment resistance risks among others.
According to practitioners, there would be a surge in HIV infections if the freeze continued for a longer period.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
