NAC Zambia nac.org.zm
THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH LAUNCHES LENACAPAVIR- A LONG ACTING HIV PREVENTION INJECTION
The Minister of Health, Dr Elijah Muchima, launched another long-acting HIV prevention injection known as Lenacapavir during the commemoration of the 2025 World AIDS Day held at Kuku Grounds in Chawama. In his speech, Dr Muchima highlighted that Zambia is transforming the AIDS response through ambitious and innovative HIV prevention efforts. He underscored that Lenacapavir a new long-acting PrEP option brings renewed hope to young people and vulnerable populations.
“This milestone signifies Zambia’s renewed leadership in the global AIDS response and our ability to turn disruption into opportunity,” Dr. Elijah Muchima
To guide the rollout of Lenacapavir, alongside other prevention methods such as condoms, VMMC, and additional PrEP options, the Minister also launched the Zambia 2025–2030 HIV Prevention Roadmap. This roadmap outlines five pillars of focus, sets clear targets, and defines strategic directions aimed at reducing new HIV infections to 15,000 by 2030. It will serve as a compass for accelerating, innovating, and sustaining targeted prevention efforts on the path to ending AIDS.
At the same event, the UNAIDS Country Director, Dr Isaac Ahemesah, congratulated Zambia’s leadership for surpassing the 95-95-95 UNAIDS targets, with the country currently standing at 98-98-97meaning 98 percent of people know their HIV status, 98 percent of those are on treatment, and 97 percent are virally suppressed. However, he noted with concern that Zambia recorded 30,000 new HIV infections in 2024, with 38 percent occurring among adolescents and young people aged 15–24 years.
Also present at the event was the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) Chairperson, Bishop Professor Joshua Banda, who underscored the critical role of the National HIV/AIDS/STI/TB Council (NAC) in the multisectoral response. He emphasized the need to reposition NAC to enhance its effectiveness in its coordination role. He further indicated that the CCM would convene a roundtable meeting with NAC to discuss strategies for increasing domestic funding.
