In an efforts to curb new HIV infections and improve public health outcomes, the Cross River State government has launched the Lenacapavir Injectable Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), a long-acting HIV prevention intervention in Calabar.
Lenacapavir provides up to 99 percent protection against HIV infection when used as a preventive therapy
Key Highlights:
Unlike daily oral medications, Lenacapavir provides a long-acting preventive option administered twice yearly, improving adherence, privacy and convenience for vulnerable persons at risk of HIV infection
Speaking during the launch, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Ayuk, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Jonah Offor, described the initiative as a significant milestone in the global fight against HIV/AIDS.
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He said Cross River State is among eight states selected for the pilot phase of the intervention, adding that the introduction of Lenacapavir reflects the commitment of the administration of Governor Bassey Otu to innovative and people-centred healthcare delivery.
According to him, prevention remains safer and more cost-effective than treatment.
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.
She explained that the injectable PrEP would reduce stigma, lessen pill burden and expand prevention choices, especially for adolescents, young people and key populations.
However, she cautioned that the intervention should not be misconstrued as promoting promiscuity, since it does not prevent pregnancy or other sexually transmitted infections.
According to the permanent secretary, 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 Cross River State Coordinator of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Yewande Olatunde, described the initiative as a strategic approach to reducing HIV prevalence, noting that Africa still bears about 65 percent of the global HIV burden.
She urged implementers in the state to ensure proper data management and effective deployment of the intervention to justify the state’s inclusion among the pilot states.
Also speaking, the Director General of the Cross River State Agency for the Control of AIDS (SACA), Dr. Charles Iwara, disclosed that the Global Fund strongly backed Cross River’s inclusion among the eight pilot states because of its commitment to HIV response programmes.
Iwara, warned against the sale of the drug since it is meant to be administered free of charge to eligible persons.
