By Michael Gwarisa
Malawi has received its first shipment of lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable HIV prevention medicine, with enough doses expected to protect 38,000 people, marking another milestone in Africa’s rollout of one of the most significant advances in HIV prevention in decades.
The arrival of the first of two planned shipments positions Malawi as the eighth African country to introduce lenacapavir, joining Zimbabwe, Uganda, South Africa, Eswatini, Nigeria and other countries that have already commenced rollout of the twice-yearly HIV prevention injection.
Announcing the development through its official X account, the United States Embassy in Malawi described the shipment as “a major step in HIV prevention” for the country.
According to a fact sheet released by the Embassy, the United States, in partnership with the Government of Malawi, will deliver enough lenacapavir to reach 38,000 Malawians under the initial rollout. Malawi is one of ten priority countries selected for the first phase of global introduction of the medicine.
“The first of two shipments arrived on May 6, 2026, marking the launch of a new phase in HIV prevention under the U.S.-Malawi partnership,” the Embassy said.
The Embassy said the introduction of lenacapavir reflects continued collaboration between the two governments to strengthen HIV prevention efforts and support Malawi’s national strategy to end HIV as a public health threat.
“The U.S. government is supporting the Government of Malawi with the procurement and strategic assistance needed to introduce lenacapavir through the Government of Malawi-led national plan. This reflects our continued commitment to work with Malawi to end HIV as a public health threat,” the fact sheet states.
Lenacapavir, developed by U.S.-based biopharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences, has generated global excitement following clinical trials that demonstrated more than 99 percent effectiveness in preventing HIV acquisition when administered as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
Unlike daily oral PrEP or injectable cabotegravir that is administered every two months, lenacapavir requires just two injections per year, offering a more convenient option that experts believe could improve adherence and expand HIV prevention coverage among populations at substantial risk of infection.
According to the U.S. Embassy fact sheet, the medicine offers safe, discreet and highly effective protection while reducing the burden associated with daily pills or more frequent injections.
The rollout is expected to have a significant impact on Malawi’s HIV epidemic, where nearly 12,000 new HIV infections are recorded annually. Priority populations include adolescent girls and young women, pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as other individuals at elevated risk of HIV infection.
The Embassy also noted that Gilead Sciences is supplying the medicine at cost while supporting expanded generic production to improve future access.
Malawi’s rollout adds momentum to Africa’s growing adoption of lenacapavir following recent introductions in countries including Zimbabwe, Uganda, South Africa, Eswatini and Nigeria. Public health experts have described the gradual expansion across the continent as a critical step towards reducing new HIV infections and accelerating progress towards ending AIDS as a public health threat.
