Zambia receives over 20,000 vials of long-acting injectable HIV prevention medication

Zambia has received the second batch of the Long-Acting Injectable Cabotegravir (CAB-LA) for HIV prevention from the United States government.

This is through the USAID Global Health Supply Chain-Procurement & Supply Management (GHSC-PSM).

The new consignment, about 20,250 vials, was received by ZAMMSA Director-General, Victor Nyasulu, at the central warehouse in Lusaka on Wednesday.

Nyasulu said the consignment would be distributed to selected health facilities across the country.

“In February 2024, Zambia became the first African country to have access to Injectable PrEP after receiving 15,000 vials of CAB-LA and was launched by Health Minister, Sylvia Masebo,” he stated.

Nyasulu stated that CAB-LA was an intramuscular injectable, long-acting form of PrEP, with the first 2 injections administered four weeks apart, followed thereafter by an injection every eight weeks.

“Studies found that use of CAB-LA resulted in a 79 percent relative reduction in HIV risk compared with oral PrEP, where adherence to taking daily oral medication was often a challenge,” he said.

Nyasulu expressed happiness that CAB-LA was a safe and highly effective HIV prevention tool which would drastically help in mitigating HIV infections across the country.

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