Namibia on course to register HIV prevention injection

By: Selma Taapopi

Namibia has fast-tracked the registration of lenacapavir, an injectable HIV prevention treatment administered twice a year.

Lenacapavir is a pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) administered as a long-acting injectable formulation, in contrast to oral tablets that require daily administration.

The ministry on Thursday announced the progress on its Facebook page.

Last year, Deputy Executive Director for Regional Health and Social Welfare Services, Taimi Amaambo, told NewsOne that over 100 000 people had used PrEP at least once between 2020 and 2024.

Health Minister Dr. Esperance Luvindao is in talks with the Director General of the African Medicines Agency, pushing for timely and meaningful price reductions so that the injection can be integrated into public sector programmes without crippling national HIV responses due to unaffordable costs.

Namibia has achieved the 95-95-95 UNAIDS targets. This means that 95 percent of all people living with HIV know their status, 95 percent of those diagnosed are on antiretroviral treatment, and 95 percent of those on treatment have achieved viral suppression. However, Namibia continues to experience ongoing new HIV infections.