Tag: Prep

Zimbabwe’s Medicines Regulatory Body Registers Lencapavir

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) has announced the expedited approval of Lenacapavir, an innovative long-acting medicine for pre exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV-1 infection. The MCAZ Director-General, Mr. Richard T. Rukwata, said “the rapid approval of Lenacapavir reflects the Authority’s dedication to accelerating access to trusted, high-quality health products and brings new hope for HIV prevention while reinforcing its commitment to safeguarding public health.” Lenacapavir was assessed and approved by the Registration Committee under the expedited review process, as it is considered to be…

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Zimbabwe to Prioritise Local Funding in New HIV Strategy

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe is set to begin developing its fifth Zimbabwe National HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan (ZNASP V), which will guide the country’s HIV response from 2026 to 2030. The forthcoming strategy follows the successful implementation of ZNASP IV, which runs until 2025 and has seen major progress in the fight against HIV. Under ZNASP IV, Zimbabwe achieved remarkable milestones, including meeting the global 95-95-95 targets — where 95% of people living with HIV know their status, 95% of those diagnosed are on treatment, and 95% of those…

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Suspended HIV Services Resume in Masvingo as CAB-LA, Vaginal Ring Return for Key Populations

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa, recently in Masvingo For the past 12 months, Wellington*, a 41-year-old Masvingo man who has sex with men (MSM) and a male sex worker, has relied on oral Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) to reduce his risk of HIV infection. He has also used condoms and occasionally Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP). At the start of 2025, Wellington hoped he would be initiated on the injectable form of PrEP, Cabotegravir Long-Acting (CAB-LA), to further protect himself. But like many other HIV prevention services, the injectable program had been suspended following the…

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FDA approves twice-a-year injection for HIV prevention

Michael Gwarisa

CNN — A drug currently used to treat certain HIV infections has also, on Wednesday, received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration to be used to prevent HIV. Gilead Sciences, maker of the drug, announced that a twice-a-year injection of lenacapavir has been approved in the United States for HIV prevention under the brand name Yeztugo. In clinical trials, the drug was found to dramatically reduce the risk of infection and provide near-total protection against HIV, significantly more than the primary options available for pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP. Therapies called PrEP…

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CAB-LA Enjoys High Continuity Rates Among PrEP Users In Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The recently introduced long-acting cabotegravir (CAB-LA) for HIV prevention has seen more users returning to get the second dose post their first jab, with data showing that the injectable drug has recorded a continuity rate over 90% since roll out in April, 2024. Currently, the Injectable PrEP is being administered in PrEP study sites in Harare, Mature and Bulawayo and is targeting mainly groups at high risk of HIV, namely Female Sex Workers (FSW), Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) and Men who have Sex with other…

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Zimbabwe Launches Stage 2 of CATALYST Study, Adding Injectable PrEP to HIV Prevention Options for Participants

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Following the delivery of injectable Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) doses, Zimbabwe through the Maximizing Options to Advance Informed Choice for HIV Prevention (MOSAIC) consortium, has launched stage 2 of the CATALYST study, introducing the newly approved injectable PrEP. The study is funded by funded by PEPFER through USAID. The CATALYST study was initially launched in 2023 where two PrEP methods — tenofovir-based oral pills and the dapivirine ring (PrEP ring) — were offered. The CATALYST sites remain the same six sites where stage 1 was conducted. These include…

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CATALYST Study To Inform National Scale-Up Of PrEP Products in Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Following the approval for the use of three Pre-Exposure Prophylaxes (PrEP) products for HIV prevention by the Zimbabwean government,  the country is conducting a three-year study to evaluate and inform the national HIV response’s rollout of PrEP products. The study named CATALYST, which stands for Catalyzing Access to New Prevention Product to Stop HIV is a multi-country study that will characterise and assess the implementation of an enhanced service delivery package providing informed choice of PrEP products among women at the sites where the study is being…

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Zimbabwe To Use Dual Prevention Pill That Protects Against HIV Infection and Unintended Pregnancy

Michael Gwarisa

In a bid to widen HIV prevention and contraceptive options for women and girls, Zimbabwe could be adopting a revolutionary Dual Prevention Pill (DPP), in the not so distant future. By Michael Gwarisa The Dual Prevention Pill adds to the list of other Biomedical HIV prevention tools Zimbabwe has adopted over the past few years which include  the Dapivirine Vaginal ring that was adopted in 2021 and the Long-Acting Injectable PrEP that was approved for use in 2022. However, roll-out of these products is yet to commence in Zimbabwe. Speaking…

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UNDP Facilitates Construction of Low Cost Boarding Facilities To Reduce HIV Vulnerability In Adolescent School Girls

Michael Gwarisa

Following the death of her mother, 15 year old Grace Mwamuka* now stays with her father and two minor siblings. She is from Ndima Village in Chimanimani. Throughout the year 2022, she would walk three hours to and from school daily. By Michael Gwarisa Every morning, she would wake up as early as 4:00 AM to clean the house and prepare food for her young siblings before departing for school. After school, she would rush home to clean the house and prepare dinner. This was taking a toll on her…

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Zimbabwe Hosts PrEP Communication Strategy Development Workshop

Michael Gwarisa

Various stakeholders from within the HIV continuum gathered in Mazowe, Mashonaland Central province for a four day Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) communication strategy development workshop. By Michael Gwarisa in Mazowe The workshop was hosted by the National AIDS Council (NAC), in collaboration with Jhpiego, with funding from Global Fund with the objective to design a communication instrument for the planning and coordination of demand creation interventions implemented by key stakeholders and implementing partners in at community level to motivate the uptake and sustained use of PrEP by priority audiences. The communication…

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