U.S. DELIVERS FIRST SHIPMENT OF INJECTABLE PrEP TO ZAMBIA
THE United States government has delivered to Zambia the first shipment of injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medicine for HIV prevention, making Zambia the first in Africa and the second country in the world (after the United States) to offer injectable PrEP outside of a study setting.
The Embassy of The United States of America in Zambia confirmed in a statement that the injectable PrEP is a safe and effective HIV prevention tool that provides clients with two months of HIV protection between injections.
The development cheered Minister of Health, Sylvia Masebo who hailed the US government for its commitment to promoting a healthy Zambia.
“The impact of this donation extends beyond the vials received today; it represents hope, progress, and a collective determination to create a healthier and brighter future for the people of Zambia,” Ms Masebo said during the event which took place at Mwanjuni Health Post, a facility in Chibombo which is supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
U.S. governments country chair for the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Ryan Phelps said, “It is important that the people at risk of acquiring HIV can choose the HIV prevention method that works best for them and fits into their lifestyle. For those who have trouble taking a pill every day to prevent HIV, this long acting injectable may be a more manageable option.”
“Through this donation of injectable PrEP, the U.S. and Zambia governments are expanding HIV prevention options for all,” he said.
The donation of 14, 850 vials of injectable PrEP – called Cabotegravir Long Acting (CAB-LA) – to Zambia’s Ministry of Health is expected to protect 2,000 Zambians against HIV for one year.
CAB-LA is a new HIV prevention method and the Ministry of Health is ensuring equitable access to both urban and rural populations in Zambia.
The U.S. government continues to be the largest donor to Zambia’s health sector, providing services to more than 15 million Zambians, and provides roughly one in every three-kwacha spent nationally on public healthcare.