The North West Provincial Government has introduced a groundbreaking HIV prevention intervention through its flagship Thuntsha Lerole Accelerated Service Delivery Programme, administering the province’s first Lenacapavir injection to strengthen HIV prevention and help reduce new infections.
The milestone was marked when North West Premier Kagiso Lazarus Mokgosi, accompanied by MEC for Health Sello Lehari, officially launched the rollout of the long-acting HIV prevention injection during the Thuntsha Lerole Phase 6 Accelerated Service Delivery Programme, held in Madibeng Local Municipality, Brits on Friday.
The Thuntsha Lerole Programme is an initiative led by the North West provincial government aimed at confronting the critical issue of service delivery in communities, through strengthened partnerships with government, the private sector as well as civil society organisations.
The provincial rollout comes two weeks after President Cyril Ramaphosa officially launched Lenacapavir nationally in Secunda, Mpumalanga, positioning South Africa at the forefront of innovative HIV prevention strategies.
Lenacapavir is a long-acting HIV prevention injection administered only twice a year, offering a more convenient alternative to daily oral Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) medication for people at high risk of HIV infection.
Speaking at the launch, Mokgosi welcomed the breakthrough and encouraged residents to take advantage of the new prevention option.
“We are proud to witness this historic moment in our province. As Co-Chairperson of the South African National AIDS Council in the North West, I encourage our people to come forward and protect themselves against HIV infection.
“We need groundbreaking interventions such as this now more than ever as we intensify our fight against HIV and AIDS,” the Premier said.
In a historic first for the province, 19-year-old Given Pashe from Letlhabile became the first recipient in North West to receive the Lenacapavir injection at the Letlhabile Community Health Centre.
After receiving the two injections, Pashe expressed excitement and relief.
“I am very happy. I felt no pain at all. The nurses helped me stay calm and explained the entire process thoroughly. I would encourage other young people to come and protect themselves,” he said.
The Department of Health has identified 31 healthcare facilities across the province to participate in the pilot phase of the programme. More than 12 000 doses have already been delivered to the province as part of the first consignment, with additional stock expected as the rollout expands.
The selected facilities include clinics and community health centres located in areas with high HIV burden and elevated risk of infection.
Members of the public interested in accessing the injection are encouraged to visit participating facilities to determine their eligibility. Individuals who test HIV-negative and meet the eligibility criteria will receive further clinical assessment and counselling before being considered for the injection.
Lehari reaffirmed the province’s readiness to implement the programme successfully.
“I am pleased that the Premier, civil society organisations and other key stakeholders are here to witness this important milestone. We have trained our healthcare professionals on the administration of Lenacapavir and have put systems in place to ensure proper management and monitoring of the programme.
“While this is currently a pilot initiative, we are committed to expanding access as we continue strengthening HIV prevention efforts across the province,” Lehari said.
The Department of Health emphasised that while Lenacapavir represents a breakthrough in HIV prevention, it does not replace other preventive measures. Condoms remain essential in preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and providing additional protection against HIV. – SAnews.gov.za
