Rwanda to Offer 6-Month HIV Prevention Shot This Year

Rwanda is preparing to roll out lenacapavir, a game-changing HIV prevention injection that only needs to be taken twice a year instead of daily pills.

The Rwanda Biomedical Centre announced the injectable drug will become available in the final three months of 2024, once regulatory approvals and health facility preparations are complete. Dr. Zephanie Nzeyimana, HIV Key Population Strategic Officer at RBC, confirmed the country is on track to offer this innovative prevention method alongside existing options.

The injection works for six months at a time, protecting people from HIV without requiring daily medication. When given on schedule, users stay fully protected throughout the entire six-month period.

Rwanda will offer lenacapavir free of charge to anyone who needs it, with no cost barriers to access. Healthcare providers will assess individual risk to determine who could benefit most, prioritizing people at substantial risk including sex workers, men who have sex with men, and people in relationships where one partner has HIV and the other doesn't.

But access won't stop there. Providers will use behavioral and health criteria to identify others who could benefit from the drug, ensuring broader protection across communities.

The Ripple Effect

Rwanda joins a growing movement across Africa bringing this innovation to the people who need it most. Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Eswatini have already received their first shipments, while Botswana, Malawi, Tanzania, and Uganda have approved the drug for use.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved lenacapavir for HIV prevention in June 2025, opening the door for global rollout. Now countries across Eastern and Southern Africa are racing to make it available, with Kenya and Namibia finalizing their own preparations.

Rwanda's health workers will receive specialized training to explain the new option clearly and combat misinformation. Users will get counseling at each injection appointment, guidance on reporting side effects, and screening for other infections when needed.

This twice-yearly injection could transform HIV prevention by making it simpler and more convenient for millions of people across Africa.