SOUTH AFRICA — The South African Department of Health (DoH) has announced significant progress in the national rollout of Lenacapavir, a groundbreaking twice-yearly injectable HIV prevention medication. As of early September 2026, more than 55,000 individuals have been initiated on the treatment, marking a major milestone in the country’s public health strategy.
Officially launched in June 2026 by President Cyril Ramaphosa and Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, the Lenacapavir initiative has rapidly expanded to approximately 360 public health facilities. This network spans 24 districts across six provinces, reflecting a coordinated national effort to broaden access to long-acting HIV prevention options.
According to the DoH, exactly 55,123 people had been initiated on Lenacapavir as of 7 September 2026, demonstrating strong public demand for this advanced prevention method. Demographic data indicates that 71 percent of the recipients are female, with a significant majority being pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.
Provincial data shows Gauteng leading the nation in Lenacapavir initiations with 26,357 individuals. This is followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 11,941, North West with 4,479, Western Cape with 4,446, Mpumalanga with 4,294, and the Eastern Cape with 3,606 initiations.
The implementation of this program is being executed in close collaboration with provincial Health Departments and various healthcare stakeholders. Healthcare workers and implementing partners are actively monitoring several critical metrics, including medication uptake, commodity availability, quality of service delivery, client follow-up, and overall patient safety.
Lenacapavir is being administered as part of a comprehensive PrEP-choice programme, ensuring patients have access to a variety of evidence-based HIV prevention options. The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has officially approved and registered the medication as safe and effective for preventing HIV infection. This approval followed a rigorous review of preclinical, clinical, and manufacturing data.
To ensure ongoing safety, the DoH advises that individuals experiencing any serious or persistent adverse events after receiving the injection should promptly report them to healthcare workers at their nearest health facility.
The department reaffirmed its commitment to the safe, responsible, and evidence-based implementation of Lenacapavir and other medical products. This commitment is actively supported by strengthened pharmacovigilance, continuous clinical monitoring, and the rapid investigation of any serious adverse events.
