NACA expands HIV prevention with six-monthly lenacapavir jab
Despite advances in HIV prevention and treatment, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has warned that there is still no scientific cure for the virus, as Nigeria recorded about 45,000 new HIV infections last year, prompting renewed efforts to strengthen prevention and expand access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
NACA Director-General Dr Temitope Ilori disclosed this during a media training on HIV prevention organised by NACA in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other stakeholders.
Ilori said NACA was expanding prevention options for people at higher risk of HIV infection, including daily oral PrEP, injectable cabotegravir administered every two months and the newly introduced lenacapavir, administered once every six months.
She stressed that PrEP was a prevention strategy for people who are HIV-negative and should not be mistaken for a cure.
According to her, lenacapavir is currently being implemented under a pilot programme in selected states and is not yet commercially available in Nigeria.
She said NACA was working with international and donor partners to expand access and scale up the programme to more states.
“There’s no market price to it as of today. You just need to link up with the facilities that are offering these injections and get it free of charge,” she said.
On safety, Ilori said no major side effects had so far been recorded among people receiving the injectable during the pilot, adding that participants were being closely monitored.
She expressed concern over HIV infections among young people, attributing part of the challenge to inadequate access to accurate information.
The NACA boss urged journalists to intensify public education and tackle persistent myths about HIV transmission, stressing that the virus could not be contracted through hugging, handshakes, sharing offices or mosquito bites.
She said HIV was transmitted through infected blood, sexual contact and from mother to child where an infected mother was not receiving appropriate treatment.
Also, WHO Technical Officer, HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Nigeria, Dr Oluwafunke Odunlade, said PrEP contains antiretroviral drugs designed to prevent HIV from establishing infection in the body.
Odunlade disclosed that HIV prevalence stood at 1.3 per cent among Nigerians aged 15 to 49 and 1.4 per cent among those aged 15 to 65.
She stressed that anyone seeking PrEP must first test for HIV because the drugs prevent infection but do not treat established HIV. Odunlade said adherence was critical, with oral PrEP taken daily, cabotegravir every two months and lenacapavir every six months.
She, however, cautioned that PrEP does not protect against other sexually transmitted infections, including syphilis, gonorrhoea and chlamydia, making condom use essential.
Meanwhile, Director, Health and Social Care at the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr Ayola Abiodun Olufemi, said the agency was collaborating with NACA to ensure accurate HIV information reached communities nationwide.
Olufemi described the media as a cornerstone of public health, saying journalists had a major role to play in correcting myths, changing perceptions and promoting behavioural change.
He said NOA would deploy its structures across the 774 local government areas to complement media campaigns through town hall meetings, community engagement and grassroots sensitisation on HIV prevention.
Ilori further reiterated that although there is currently no scientific cure for HIV, effective antiretroviral treatment is available free of charge at government health facilities.
She urged Nigerians to know their HIV status, embrace available prevention options, adhere to treatment and reject stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV.
(The Sun)