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Zambia has been picked as one of the five countries in the world by the United States government to be supported with procurement of a long acting injectable ARV called cabotegravir (CAB-LA) this year.
Ministry of Health Director for Infectious Diseases and Acting Director General for the National AIDS Council Professor Lloyd Mulenga said Zambia will this year receive this long-acting ARV.
This is a new injectable ARV offered for prevention of HIV among people at high risk of acquiring HIV.
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This method of preventing HIV is called pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV.
He said this on the side-lines of the US government led Country Operating Planning for 2023/24 (COP 23) Meeting in South Africa on Thursday.
Mulenga said it is a safe and highly effective prevention option for people at substantial risk of HIV infection.
He said the World Health Organization approved this ARV injection last year in 2022 and pledged to support countries as they plan for CAB-LA introduction as part of a comprehensive approach to HIV prevention and will facilitate urgently needed operational research.
“What has been lacking has been financial resources to secure these drugs which are given as an injection every two months. Therefore, with the support from the US Government to procure these medicines for the Zambian people, this will help a lot of people in the country,” Mulenga said.
He said the Ministry of Health is doing everything possible to ensure that less cases of HIV infections are recorded through various interventions adding that the fight is the biggest challenge which the country faces and is sustained by Zambian government, together with stakeholders such as the US government through PEPFAR and the Global Fund.
He further said these key players have been supporting the procurement of ARV drugs in Zambia.
Zambia has been experiencing high number of new HIV infections especially in the young people under the age of 24.
At the same meeting, the WHO and the Global Fund pledged to support Zambia in the rolling out of this new prevention model.
This will be through technical and logisitical support in making sure that those who need the drug have access.
CAB-LA has been a commodity being sought for by many countries and governments but the demand and cost has limited its access.
Zambia is among several countries that applied for such support and it was picked based on its highly recognized HIV programme including the HIV prevention.
This is contained in a statement issued by First Secretary Press and Public Relations at Zambia High Commission in South Africa Tamara Nyirenda.
Contributed by: Julius Phiri
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