MINISTER of Health Mduduzi Matsebula says young women and adolescent girls, who remain at the highest risk of new HIV infections will be the main target group for Eswatini’s new long-acting HIV prevention jab.
The much-awaited Lenacapavir (LEN) injectable PrEP is finally in the country. It was officially launched on Monday at Hhukwini, a major milestone in Eswatini’s fight against HIV/AIDS.
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This long-acting injection is expected to be a true game changer, offering a powerful new option for protection.
Matsebula said protecting these priority groups was at the centre of the national HIV prevention strategy, noting that women and girls continued to carry a disproportionate share of new infections.
He said it offered a crucial opportunity to give them a discreet, long-term prevention method that fit their needs and daily realities. He described the jab as ‘a powerful and convenient tool’ for people who wanted reliable HIV protection without daily pills.
Eswatini is preparing to offer the long-acting injectable PrEP to more than 70 000 people. Matsebula said reaching the targeted people, especially young women and girls, would require strong collaboration between government, implementing partners and community organisations.
He emphasised that the ministry aimed to make sure every eligible person received accurate information, accessible services and proper follow-up support. Matsebula further noted that while the focus was on preventing new infections, maintaining stable treatment for people already living with HIV remained essential.
The introduction of long-acting PrEP is part of a broader national effort to strengthen community-level prevention and push the country toward achieving its 2030 HIV targets.
The minister also highlighted ongoing supply chain upgrades, saying these improvements reflected the ministry’s commitment to delivering better services. He said a reliable supply chain was crucial for ensuring access to lifesaving medicines and supporting HIV, TB and malaria programmes while preparing the system for new technologies such as the injectable PrEP.
“Eswatini’s achievements surpassing the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets with 98-98-98 show the impact of strong health systems,” he said, adding that gains in malaria control and TB treatment success rates further demonstrated the value of sustained investment.
He said the combination of tools like lenacapavir and stronger supply chains would help the country move faster in reducing HIV infections and improving health outcomes.
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