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C’River rolls out HIV prevention injection
A new jab to prevent HIV has been launched in Calabar, Cross River State.
The injection, Lenacapavir, unlike daily oral medications, provides a long-acting preventive option administered twice yearly, improving adherence, privacy and convenience for vulnerable persons at risk of HIV infection.
Prevention remained safer and more cost-effective than treatment.
While the new injection prevents HIV, it is neither a cure for HIV nor a vaccine.
It is meant for HIV-negative people who want protection against infection, and the injection is usually administered by healthcare professionals every six months.
In Nigeria, the rollout has already begun in states, including in eight states, including the FCT.
The Cross River State Government has launched the Lenacapavir Injectable Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP).
The launch happened at the General Hospital Calabar, marking a major step as efforts to curb new HIV infections and improve public health outcomes continue.
Speaking during the launch on Monday, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Henry Egbe Ayuk, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Jonah Offor, described the initiative as a significant milestone in the global fight against HIV/AIDS.
He said Cross River was among only eight states selected for the pilot phase of the intervention, adding that the introduction of Lenacapavir reflects the commitment of the administration of Bassey Otu to innovative and people-centred healthcare delivery.
Programme Manager of the Cross River State AIDS, Viral Hepatitis and STIs Control Programme, Mary-Treasure Amah, describes Lenacapavir as a “game changer”, the power of science meeting the needs of people in HIV prevention strategies in Nigeria.
She explained that the injectable PrEP would reduce stigma, lessen pill burden and expand prevention choices, especially for adolescents, young people and key populations, while cautioning that the intervention should not be misconstrued as promoting promiscuity since it does not prevent pregnancy or other sexually transmitted infections.
According to Mary-Treasure Amah, facilities selected for the pilot rollout of the Lenacapavir PrEP injection in Cross River State include the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, General Hospital Calabar, General Hospital Akamkpa, General Hospital Ugep, Cottage Hospital Akpet in Biase Local Government Area, and the One-Stop Shop (OSS) in Bakassi.
The Cross River State Coordinator of the World Health Organisation, Dr. Yewande Olatunde, described the initiative as a strategic approach to reducing HIV prevalence, noting that Africa still bears about 65 per cent of the global HIV burden.
She urged implementers in the state to ensure proper data management and effective deployment of the intervention to justify Cross River’s inclusion among the pilot states.
Meanwhile, Director General of the Cross River State Agency for the Control of AIDS (SACA), Dr Charles Iwara, disclosed that the Global Fund strongly backed Cross River’s inclusion among the eight pilot states because of its commitment to HIV response programmes.
He noted that research had shown that Lenacapavir could provide up to 99 per cent protection against HIV infection when used as preventive therapy, warning against the sale of the drug since it is meant to be administered free of charge to eligible persons.
The National Clinical Mentor for Cross River and Akwa Ibom States, Dr. Harrison Babia described Lenacapavir as a major breakthrough because of its ease of administration and reduced complications compared to oral PrEP, adding that the success of the pilot phase would determine expansion to other states.
On his part, the Cross River State Programme Manager of the Excellence Community Education Welfare Scheme (ECEWS), Dr. Joe Umana, stressed the need for proper follow-up, documentation and monitoring of recipients, especially pregnant and breastfeeding women targeted under the intervention.
Delivering goodwill messages, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Nursing, Coco-Bassey Esu, pledged support for statewide sensitisation and awareness campaigns, while other development partners reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Cross River State in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Representing the traditional institution, HRH Muri Archibong Ika Archibong pledged the support of royal fathers and traditional medicine practitioners toward promoting awareness and combating misconceptions surrounding HIV/AIDS, noting that prevention remained the best approach to disease control.