The Federal Government is expecting a total of 52,000 doses of Lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injectable HIV prevention drug, as nine states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) begin a pilot programme for its rollout.
According to a report by PUNCH, 11, 520 doses have already been delivered, with the injection set to be officially unveiled on March 24 across the designated pilot locations.
Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Benue, Cross River, Ebonyi, Gombe, Kano, Kwara, and Lagos, as well as the FCT, have been selected for the initial phase of the programme. A memo from the National Coordinator of the National HIV, Viral Hepatitis and STDs Control Programme (NASCP), Dr Adebobola Bashorun, confirmed the inauguration date.
Health workers are currently undergoing training on standard procedures and guidelines for administering the injection.
For now, the drug is not available in pharmacies. Officials say it will be provided free of charge at designated public health centres, including general hospitals, within the pilot states.
Lenacapavir, developed by Gilead Sciences, was recommended by the World Health Organisation in July 2025 as an additional pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) option.
It offers a long-acting alternative to daily prevention pills, requiring only two injections per year.
In Benue State, the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Paul Ogwuche, confirmed that the injection would be administered free of charge. He said demand was strong, particularly among health workers seeking preventive measures.
Clarification: Injection Is Prevention, Not Cure
As demand grows, health officials and civil society organisations have moved to clarify that Lenacapavir is strictly a preventive measure and does not cure HIV.
A non-governmental organisation working on HIV/AIDS prevention, Excellence Community Education Welfare Scheme (ECEWS), stressed that individuals already infected with HIV would require lifelong antiretroviral therapy rather than this injection.
Meanwhile, states selected for the pilot programme have begun designating health facilities where the injection will be administered.
According to the National Agency for the Control of AIDS and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), approximately two million people are living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria based on 2024-2025 estimated.
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