The Anambra State Government has launched the rollout of Lenacapavir (LEN PrEP), a ground-breaking long-acting injectable drug aimed at preventing HIV infection.
The initiative is to strengthen HIV prevention efforts and reduce new infections, especially among vulnerable groups and high-risk communities.
Speaking at the launch, the Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike described the programme as a critical intervention in the effort to eliminate HIV transmission.
He stressed that prevention remains one of the strongest tools in combating HIV/AIDS.
The commissioner warned against the diversion or commercialization of the medication, noting that it is strictly meant for public health use.
Dr. Obidike also commended the Governor Chukwuma Soludo, for supporting healthcare reforms and expanding access to lifesaving medical services.
According to him, the state’s HIV statistics appear high partly because more residents are embracing regular testing and knowing their HIV status.
Also speaking, the Chief Medical Director of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Maureen Umeakuewulu, described the rollout as timely amid growing HIV cases among adolescents.
She emphasized the importance of preventive healthcare and applauded President Bola Tinubu for including Anambra among the states selected for the programme.
Highest S’east prevalence rate
The Anambra State AIDS Programme Coordinator, Tonia Mbagwu, disclosed that the state currently has an HIV prevalence rate of 2.4 percent — the highest in Nigeria’s South-East region.
She revealed that more than 56,000 residents are currently living with HIV, underscoring the urgent need for behavioural, structural, and biomedical interventions to curb the spread of the virus.
Representatives from the World Health Organization, National AIDS, Viral Hepatitis and STIs Control Programme, National Agency for the Control of AIDS and other health partners attended the launch, during which the long-acting injectable was administered to four beneficiaries.
Unlike the conventional daily HIV prevention pills, LEN PrEP is administered only twice a year, offering a more convenient and effective alternative for people at risk of contracting the virus.
The medication is being offered free of charge at designated healthcare facilities across the state, including Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Amaku Awka; Federal Medical Centre, Onitsha; Trauma Centre, Oba; Comprehensive Health Centres in Ukpo and Neni; and OSS, Awka.
