South Africa reports 55,000 initiations of new HIV prevention injection

More than 55,000 people in South Africa have begun using Lenacapavir, a new twice-yearly injectable medication for HIV prevention. As of September 7, 2026, the Department of Health reported that 55,123 individuals have been initiated on the treatment across approximately 360 public health facilities in 24 districts.

The rollout spans six provinces, with Gauteng recording the highest uptake at 26,357 people, followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 11,941. Other participating provinces include North West, Western Cape, Mpumalanga, and the Eastern Cape. Women represent 71% of recipients, with a significant proportion being pregnant or breastfeeding mothers.

Launched in June by President Cyril Ramaphosa and Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, Lenacapavir is provided as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV-negative individuals at risk. The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority has approved the medication as safe and effective, and it has been included on the National Essential Medicines List. The medication is intended to complement, rather than replace, existing HIV prevention options within the public health system.