Launches lenacapavir, bringing renewed hope to citizens
DARLINGTON MWENDABAI
Lusaka
TO NAVIGATE its HIV burden, Zambia has crafted the National HIV Prevention Roadmap 2025–2030, a strategic guide aimed at ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
The road map’s primary goal is to reduce new HIV infections from the current 28,000 to fewer than 15,000 annually by 2030.
It sets ambitious targets, including reaching 95 percent of key and vulnerable populations, particularly those aged 15 to 24 years, with combination prevention services.
These efforts include scaling up PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) to 95 percent coverage, achieving 95 percent male circumcision among eligible men, and reducing stigma and discrimination to less than 10 percent.
Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) continue to face a disproportionately high HIV burden.
Their HIV incidence rate stands at 3.3 percent, compared to near-zero rates among adolescent boys and young men (ABYM), according to the Zambia National HIV Prevention Roadmap 2025–2030.
The road map further emphasises integrating HIV prevention with broader health systems such as sexual and reproductive health, mental health, and social services to ensure a holistic approach.
It prioritises targeted, evidence-based interventions for adolescents, young women and other vulnerable groups.
Zambia’s adult HIV prevalence remains significant at 11 percent. Women are more affected, with a prevalence of 13.9 percent compared to eight percent among men.
The annual incidence among people aged 15 and above is 0.31 percent, translating to roughly 28,000 new infections each year.
Women have a higher incidence rate of 0.56 percent, compared to 0.06 percent among men.
Despite the progress made over the decades, challenges remain in reaching all populations equitably with prevention, treatment and care.
Minister of Health Elijah Muchima said the new prevention road map represents a pivotal step in the nation’s commitment to ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
He noted that the strategy builds on past achievements while adapting to emerging challenges.
“Our collective action is vital to achieving Zambia’s ambitious HIV prevention goals and creating a future free of AIDS,” he said.
During the December 1, 2025 World AIDS Day commemorations, the Ministry of Health reaffirmed the country’s unwavering commitment to the HIV response.
This year’s theme, “Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response”, underscores the impact of international funding cuts and highlights the resilience of countries working to safeguard hard-won gains.
Dr Muchima reminded citizens that HIV and AIDS is not over and called for a transformative approach to mitigate risks and accelerate progress.
“Our vision remains clear: A Zambia free of AIDSrelated deaths and discrimination, where every person living with HIV lives healthy and with dignity,” he said.
According to the 2025 UNAIDS spectrum estimates, Zambia has made remarkable progress.
New infections have dropped by 52 percent from 63,000 in 2010 to about 30,000 in 2025, while AIDS-related deaths have fallen by 40 percent, from 25,000 to about 15,000.
However, young people aged 15-24 still account for 38 percent of new infections, with adolescent girls and young women facing more than triple the risk of their male peers.
The estimates also show that 1.4 million Zambians are living with HIV. However, Zambia has surpassed the 95–95–95 UNAIDS targets, reaching 98 percent, 98 percent, and 97 percent respectively.
Vertical transmission has declined from 21.3 percent in 2010 to 5.9 percent in 2025, though still above the WHO target of below five percent.
Under President Hakainde Hichilema’s leadership, Zambia has strengthened its multisectoral HIV response.
It was against this backdrop that Dr Muchima launched lenacapavir (LEN), a new long-acting PrEP option offering renewed hope to young people and vulnerable populations during this year’s World AIDS Day in Lusaka.
LEN is an injectable HIV prevention option administered every six months as an alternative for individuals who struggle with adherence to daily oral PrEP.
On World AIDS Day, the World Health Organisation (WHO) called on governments to expand access to WHOapproved tools, including LEN, to curb infections and counter the disruptions caused by foreign aid cuts.
The global HIV response regained momentum in 2025 following the introduction and WHO approval of twice-yearly injectable LEN.
WHO pre-qualified LEN on October 6, 2025, with national regulatory approvals soon following in South Africa (October 27), Zimbabwe (November 27), and Zambia (November 4).
LEN is widely regarded as a transformative option for people facing barriers such as stigma, mobility challenges and inconsistent access to health facilities.
In 2024, global HIV prevention efforts had stagnated, with 1.3 million new infections almost half occurring among key populations.
The key populations include sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender women, and people who inject drugs. Risk levels for these groups remain extremely high.
The AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition estimates that by October 2025, approximately 2.5 million people who used PrEP in 2024 lost access to it in 2025 due to donor funding cuts.
Earlier, on February 9, 2024, the US government delivered the first shipment of injectable PrEP to Zambia, making the country the second in the world to offer injectable PrEP (cabotegravir long-acting or CAB-LA) outside research settings.
A total of 14,850 vials were donated, enough to protect 2,000 Zambians for one year.CAB-LA, like LEN, is part of Zambia’s effort to ensure equitable access to innovative HIV prevention tools across both urban and rural areas.
To support the roll-out of LEN, the Ministry of Health, through the National HIV/AIDS/STI/TB Council, in partnership with the Media Institute of Southern Africa Zambia, has embarked on nationwide sensitisation and implementation.
The Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) is supporting the roll-out of LEN.
Ministry of Health HIV prevention lead Chimika Phiri said that with combined HIV prevention methods, Zambia is on course to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
Dr Phiri reminded the public that while scientific advances are promising, there is still no cure for HIV.
“We must continue educating communities about LEN and other prevention options,” he said.
As Zambia embraces innovative tools like LEN, the nation renews its hope for an AIDS-free future by 2030 where prevention is accessible, stigma is eliminated, and every citizen can live healthy dignified live
