RismadarVoice Reporters
March 19, 2026
Nigeria has taken delivery of the first batch of 11,520 doses of Lenacapavir, a new long-acting HIV prevention injection, donated by the Global Fund.
The handover took place on Wednesday at the Federal Central Medical Stores, Oshodi, Lagos.
Lenacapavir is a six-monthly injectable antiretroviral recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) as part of combination HIV prevention strategies.
The drug provides an alternative to daily PrEP tablets, addressing challenges such as adherence and daily protocol burden.
Receiving the batch, Mohammed Patiko, Head of Procurement and Supply Chain Management at the National AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, and STIs Control Programme (NASCP), described the delivery as a “significant step in expanding Nigeria’s HIV prevention options.”
He revealed that Nigeria is among the first nine countries in the world to make the injection available.
Patiko disclosed that the country is expecting a total of 52,000 doses in three batches, with the second and third shipments scheduled for May and October.
The injection will be provided free to clients enrolled in a pilot study, targeting high-risk groups, including sero-discordant couples and sex workers.
The pilot program will roll out in eight states, including Kwara, Gombe, Anambra, Ebonyi, the FCT, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, and Benue, with mapped health facilities prepared for distribution.
“This injectable PrEP option is convenient and client-friendly, requiring only two doses a year,” Patiko said. “It is expected to significantly increase uptake and strengthen HIV prevention efforts nationwide.”
Dr. Oladipupo Fisher, Lagos State AIDS Programme Coordinator, said the arrival of Lenacapavir strengthens Nigeria’s multi-pronged approach to HIV prevention, putting the country on track to eliminate HIV/AIDS by 2030.
Chiagozie Mgbemena of the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria assured Nigerians of the drug’s safety, noting it had undergone global and national approval processes.
She emphasized that patients would receive counselling and monitoring to ensure proper use and minimize risks.
With approximately 1.9 to 2 million Nigerians living with HIV/AIDS, the introduction of Lenacapavir represents a major milestone in the country’s fight against the epidemic, offering an effective and convenient tool for preventing new infections.
