The Nigerian Government has taken a major step in expanding access to HIV care with the rollout of a new long-acting injectable treatment designed to reduce the burden of daily medication for people living with the virus.
The innovative therapy, known as ‘Lenacapavir’, was officially launched in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, south-south Nigeria, by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Egbe Ayuk.
The breakthrough injection, administered once every six months, is expected to improve treatment adherence, ease the psychological and financial strain associated with daily drug intake and offer fresh hope to beneficiaries, who have long struggled with maintaining regular medication schedules.
Speaking at the launch ceremony, Dr Ayuk described the introduction of Lenacapavir Injectable Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) as a milestone for the state’s healthcare delivery system.
Ayuk noted that the long-acting treatment would help improve the quality of life for people living with HIV and strengthen ongoing efforts to control the spread of the virus.
He said, “Unlike daily medications that some people may struggle to maintain consistently, this injection offers convenience, privacy and improved adherence. As a ministry, we believe strongly that prevention is better, safer, and more cost-effective than treatment.
“We are, therefore, committed to ensuring that this intervention reaches those who need it most across the state,” Ayuk said.
He also disclosed that Cross River was among only eight states selected in Nigeria for the pilot phase of the intervention, attributing the feat to the commitment of the Governor Bassey Otu-led administration, which is hinged on the “People First” policy.
Continuing, the commissioner said, “I sincerely appreciate our development partners, donor agencies, the Federal Ministry of Health and implementing partners for their continuous support and collaboration.
“The Cross River State Ministry of Health remains fully committed to policies and programmes that will improve the health and well-being of our people,” he reiterated.
Earlier, the Programme Manager of the Cross River State AIDS, Viral Hepatitis and STIs Control Programme, Mary-Treasure Amah, described lenacapavir “as a game changer, the power of science meeting the needs of people in HIV prevention strategies in Nigeria.”
Amah said that the facilities selected for the pilot rollout of the Lenacapavir PrEP injection in Cross River State include the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, General Hospital Calabar, General Hospital Akamkpa, General Hospital Ugep, Cottage Hospital Akpet in Biase Local Government Area and the One-Stop Shop (OSS) in Bakassi.
The Director General of the Cross River State Agency for the Control of AIDS (SACA), Dr Charles Iwara, attributed the inclusion of the state as one of the pilots in Nigeria to the support of the Global Fund Initiative.
