NAC Zambia nac.org.zm
Zambia Launches the Dapivirine Vaginal Ring, Expanding HIV Prevention Choices for Women and Adolescent Girls
The Government of the Republic of Zambia, through the Ministry of Health and the National HIV/AIDS/STI/TB Council (NAC), today launched the Dapivirine Vaginal Ring (DVR) as an additional Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) option for women and adolescent girls in Zambia.
Speaking at the launch ceremony, Minister of Health Dr. Alex Katakwe noted with concern that adolescent girls and young women aged 15–24 years continue to account for a significant proportion of new HIV infections in the country. He described the DVR as a critical addition to Zambia’s HIV prevention toolkit, a discreet, long-acting, and woman-initiated method that affirms women’s right to choose a prevention approach that is right for them.
NAC Acting Director of Programmes, Ms. Violet Mongeza, announced that the Council will convene regular implementation learning forums to capture and apply early lessons from the DVR pilot phase. She emphasised NAC’s commitment to ensuring that service delivery improvements reach every district and every population group.
Representatives from cooperating partners also addressed the gathering. Mr. Lester Phiri of Planned Parenthood described the launch as a landmark achievement for women’s health autonomy, while Ms. Chilifya Kasanda, Executive Director of the Ascend Futures Foundation, underscored the critical importance of strong health systems, noting that it is rarely products that fail but systems.
The DVR is available to eligible women and adolescent girls through designated health facilities. Members of the public are encouraged to consult their nearest health provider for more information on PrEP options available to them.
For media inquiries, contact the NAC Communications Office.
