The Anambra State Government has launched the distribution of Lenacapavir (LEN PrEP), a long-acting injectable medication aimed at preventing HIV infection, in a move to strengthen HIV prevention efforts and reduce new cases across the state.
Health officials described the initiative as a major step forward in the fight against HIV/AIDS, noting that the medication offers a more convenient alternative to the conventional daily preventive pills. LEN PrEP is administered only twice yearly for individuals considered at risk of HIV exposure.
The medication will be available free of charge at selected health facilities, including the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital in Awka, Federal Medical Centre Onitsha, Trauma Centre Oba, Comprehensive Health Centres in Ukpo and Neni, as well as OSS Awka.
Speaking at the launch ceremony, the Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, said prevention remains one of the most effective strategies for ending the spread of HIV. He explained that the introduction of the injectable drug would improve access to preventive care, particularly for vulnerable groups and individuals with higher exposure risks.
Obidike warned against the illegal sale or diversion of the medication, stressing that it is intended strictly for public healthcare purposes.
He also commended Governor Chukwuma Soludo for supporting healthcare improvements in the state, adding that increased HIV testing and awareness campaigns have contributed to higher detection rates in Anambra.
The Chief Medical Director of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Prof. Maureen Umeakuewulu, described the programme as timely, especially amid concerns over increasing HIV infections among adolescents. She emphasized the importance of preventive healthcare and praised the Federal Government for selecting Anambra as one of the states participating in the initiative.
Also speaking, the Anambra State AIDS Programme Coordinator, Tonia Mbagwu, disclosed that the state currently records an HIV prevalence rate of 2.4 percent, the highest in Nigeria’s South-East region. According to her, more than 56,000 residents are currently living with HIV in the state.
She stressed the need for combined behavioural, structural, and biomedical interventions to reduce transmission and improve public health outcomes.
Representatives from the World Health Organization, the National AIDS and STIs Control Programme, and other health partners attended the event and delivered goodwill messages before the official inauguration of the programme and administration of the injectable medication to the first set of eligible beneficiaries.