Nigeria receives first batch of new HIV prevention drug

Nigeria has received 11,520 doses of lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable medicine for HIV prevention.

The federal government officially took delivery of the shipment on Wednesday at the Federal Central Stores in Oshodi, Lagos.

Mohammed Patiko, head of procurement and supply chain management at the National AIDS and STIs Control Programme (NASCP), said the doses are part of a larger 52,000-dose supply expected in three batches. The initiative is supported by the Global Fund.

Nigeria is among nine countries globally selected for the early rollout of the groundbreaking injection.

“We are here to receive the first tranche of a total of 52,000 doses of the lenacapavir injection, donated by the Global Fund to Nigeria as one of the nine adopted countries in the world,” Patiko said.

“It is a prevention commodity expected to reduce infections. We are expecting three batches, the first one received today is 11,520 doses, the second will come in May, and the third in October.”

He said the target population includes “serodiscordant couples, people at risk of HIV/AIDS, and key populations such as men who have sex with men (MSM), female sex workers (FSW), and transgender persons”.

“For the National HIV Programme pilot and study, the injection will be provided free of charge to all clients who are enrolled and will be available at designated health facilities in eight pilot states,” Patiko added.

“These are the Global Fund-supported states of Kwara, Gombe, Ebonyi, and Anambra. Other states are the FCT, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, and Benue and it will be available at designated secondary health facilities in these states.”

Patiko said the distribution is expected to commence next week to designated facilities through existing logistics systems.

Also speaking, Oladipupo Fisher, Lagos state AIDS programme coordinator, said the introduction of lenacapavir strengthens the country’s multi-pronged prevention strategy.

“Nigeria is on track to eliminate HIV/AIDS by 2030.These prevention products are crucial to achieving global targets. They will help reduce new infections and contribute to epidemic control by 2030,” Fisher said.

“For those already infected, treatment reduces viral load, making transmission less likely. Increased testing and treatment enrollment remain key strategies. The goal is to reduce both new and existing infections.”

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