Bahamas Eliminates Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission in Landmark Public Health Achievement
Michael Gwarisa In a significant public health milestone for the Caribbean, The Bahamas has been certified by the World Health Organization (WHO) for eliminating mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of HIV, marking a major step forward in the country’s long-running fight against the virus. The certification places The Bahamas among a small but growing group of countries
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Merck Once-Daily ARV Pill Could Reach Market Soon
Michael Gwarisa In a move that could significantly reduce pill burden and improve adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART), the United States Food and Drug Administration has approved a new once-daily pill developed by Merck & Co. for adults living with HIV-1 who are already virologically suppressed. The pill is intended to replace a patient’s existing
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Low Viral Load Doesn’t Mean Zero Risk: What New Uganda Study Means for U=U
Michael Gwarisa For years, the global HIV response has rallied around a simple but powerful message: Undetectable equals Untransmittable, widely known as U=U. Backed by strong scientific evidence, the concept has transformed both HIV prevention and the lives of people living with the virus. But new findings from the Rakai HIV Cohort Study in Uganda
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Manchester Institute of Biotechnology Develops Cheaper, Sustainable Method to Produce HIV Drug Lenacapavir
Michael Gwarisa Amid growing global pressure to make Lenacapavir more affordable, researchers at the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology have developed a new method that could significantly reduce the cost and improve the sustainability of manufacturing the long-acting HIV prevention drug. Supported by funding from the Gates Foundation, the scientists applied engineering biology, a rapidly advancing
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EU Pledges US$750 Million to Fight HIV, TB and Malaria, Boosts AMR Response
Michael Gwarisa Amid declining donor support for health programmes in Africa and globally, the European Union has committed US$750 million (€700 million) to the Global Fund’s 8th replenishment to strengthen the fight against HIV, tuberculosis and malaria. The announcement was made by Jozef Síkela, Commissioner for International Partnerships, at the One Health Summit in Lyon,
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Gilead Refuses to Sell Lenacapavir to MSF Amid Rising HIV Risk
By Michael Gwarisa Doctors Without Borders, also known as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), has accused pharmaceutical company Gilead of refusing to sell lenacapavir, a long acting injectable used to prevent HIV infection. MSF says the refusal follows multiple requests made over several months, including a formal meeting in which the organisation sought to purchase a
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Senegal Signs US Bilateral Health Deal
Michael Gwarisa Senegal has joined the growing list of African countries to sign a Bilateral Health Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United States, the US Department of State has announced. The agreement, valued at US$90 million, will cover a five-year period from 2026 to 2030. According to the US Embassy in Senegal, the deal
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New Single-Pill HIV Treatments Show Strong Results in Global Trials
Michael Gwarisa Two new once-daily HIV treatments taken as a single pill have shown strong results in late-stage clinical trials, raising hopes for simpler treatment options for people living with the virus. The studies were presented at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections 2026 in Denver, United States. Researchers tested whether the new drugs
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US Clarifies Type of Health Data Requested in Zimbabwe Talks
Michael Gwarisa A United States official has clarified the nature of the health data Washington had requested from Zimbabwe during negotiations over a proposed US$367 million health cooperation deal that has since collapsed. Two weeks ago, a leaked document from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs directing the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) and
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South Africa Launches Bid to Produce Lenacapavir as Region Seeks HIV Prevention Breakthrough
Michael Gwarisa South Africa has taken a significant step toward expanding access to next-generation HIV prevention by launching a process aimed at manufacturing lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable drug widely seen as a potential game-changer in the fight against HIV. The initiative forms part of a broader strategy by the government to strengthen regional pharmaceutical
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