Kenya has taken a fresh step in the fight against HIV after receiving the first batch of a new long-acting HIV prevention injection.
The country received the first batch of 21,000 starter doses of the drug, which will prevent the spread of the HIV/AIDS virus for HIV-negative individuals at higher risk of acquiring the virus. The drug, referred to as Lenacapavir, will be injected twice annually, unlike the traditional once-daily pill.
The drug was received through the support of the Global Fund, while more will be received in the coming April for the 12,000 individuals starting the drug. The country will also receive 25,000 more HIV prevention injection doses of the drug from the United States government to speed up the administration of the drug.
It received by the Director General for Health, Dr. Patrick Amoth, and will be administered to the population as it is deemed safe for use. The drug was approved internationally and earlier this year by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Kenya.
The Ministry of Health plans to start this in March with 15 of the counties that have the highest HIV prevalence.
The injection has the potential to be a game-changer, particularly among young people who often face challenges in adhering to their HIV regimens.
The drug is set to cost about Sh7,800 annually per person. This is significantly cheaper than its original price in the global market, which made it too expensive to be used in public health interventions.
In Kenya, there has been significant progress in reducing new HIV infections over the years. However, HIV remains a public concern in several parts of the country.
For many Kenyan families who have been affected by HIV/AIDS in one way or another, this news offers new hope that the country is slowly moving towards a future that is free of new HIV infections and children born HIV-free.
