Kenya on Thursday began administering its first doses of a promising new HIV prevention treatment in a working-class neighborhood of the capital, Nairobi, an official source said.
Lenacapavir is an injectable HIV treatment that only needs to be administered twice a year. According to experts, it represents a major breakthrough compared with treatments that require taking a daily pill.
"Today is a moment of hope for thousands of Kenyan families,” Health Minister Aden Duale said at a public event.
Kenya is one of nine African countries selected last year to introduce lenacapavir, which has been rolled out since December in South Africa, Eswatini and Zambia.
Extremely costly — more than $28,000 (€23,700) per patient per year in the United States, according to UNAIDS, which in July called on Gilead to "lower its price” — the treatment will cost only 7,800 Kenyan shillings (about €50) per person per year thanks to "a negotiated agreement with the manufacturer,” Minister Duale said.
About 1.3 million people are living with HIV in Kenya, most of them aged 15 to 24.
"Many of our young people are still at risk of infection (...), this innovation gives us renewed strength in our national fight against HIV,” Duale said, adding that the drug will be free for those who receive it.
Last week, Kenya received its first batch of 21,000 doses under an agreement with lenacapavir’s manufacturer, Gilead Sciences, and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS.
Lenacapavir offers greater discretion compared with regular visits to health centers for treatment, explained Carol Njomo, a community health worker in the Kawangware neighborhood, where the first doses were administered.
"It’s extra protection,” said Samson Mutua, 27, the first person to receive the injection.
Peace Lawrence, a 23-year-old sex worker, described it as "a relief,” as she often forgets to take pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), an existing preventive treatment in pill form that requires very frequent intake.
"Having sex with multiple partners always leaves me in fear,” she told AFP.
The rollout comes as African countries face cuts in global humanitarian aid, particularly from the United States, which have affected HIV/AIDS programs across the continent.