Gauteng to offer six‑monthly Lenacapavir injections at 133 clinics in HIV prevention push

Gauteng will begin offering Lenacapavir, a six‑monthly injectable for HIV prevention, at 133 health facilities as part of a national expansion of prevention services. The provincial rollout is scheduled to start on 8 June 2026 and forms part of a nationwide initiative announced by the National Department of Health and President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Where the injections will be offered

The province will introduce Lenacapavir at 133 facilities across Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, Sedibeng and the West Rand, targeting populations at high risk of HIV infection, Gauteng Health Department spokesperson Steve Mabona said.

Supplies and rollout timeline

South Africa received its first batch of Lenacapavir, comprising 37,920 doses, in April 2026. Gauteng has been allocated stock to initiate treatment for 56,079 eligible clients in the province between 8 June 2026 and 31 March 2027, Mabona said.

The department has already received an initial allocation to initiate 18,809 individuals. Distribution to districts began on 24 May 2026, enabling facilities to prepare ahead of the official rollout on 8 June. Mabona said additional stock will be supplied quarterly to ensure continuity of the programme.

Preparation and priority groups

To prepare for the programme, the department trained healthcare workers, pharmacists, programme managers and data personnel, established monitoring and reporting systems, and distributed clinical guidelines to support implementation.

Phase one of the rollout will prioritise: adolescent girls and young women; adolescent boys and young men; key populations including sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender persons and people who inject drugs; and pregnant and breastfeeding women, Mabona said.

Community engagement and awareness

Gauteng plans to support the rollout with facility activations, community dialogues, media engagements, radio campaigns, peer educator programmes and social media awareness initiatives to increase public understanding and enable eligible individuals to access services, Mabona said.

Responses from partners

Gilead applauded Pretoria and the Global Fund for accelerating access to Lenacapavir, saying it “marks an important step toward expanding access to Lenacapavir for communities most affected by HIV.”

The provincial rollout in Gauteng is presented by authorities as part of an effort to expand HIV prevention options and accelerate progress towards ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.