Must read: First Ugandan gets HIV injectable drug as rollout starts

The Health Ministry has announced the administration of the first dose of the HIV prevention drug Cabotegravir (Cab-LA) as part of the country’s rollout of long-acting HIV prevention options.

Dr. Herbert Kadama, the Ministry’s Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Coordinator, revealed on Tuesday that the first recipient of the injection was a walk-in patient at a health facility in Mbarara, an area currently experiencing a rise in new HIV cases.

Dr. Kadama refrained from providing additional details about this case but noted that the drug is available to anyone at risk of contracting HIV. The injection is administered in two initial doses four weeks apart, followed by one dose every eight weeks. Cabotegravir offers a promising alternative to daily oral PrEP, simplifying prevention efforts for those at risk.

Despite its potential, Uganda currently has limited doses of Cabotegravir, primarily sourced through donations from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan. The Ministry anticipates the arrival of more doses procured by the Global Fund by February. Currently, 7,500 doses are available, with an additional 3,500 expected. As more doses become accessible, more health facilities will be able to offer the injection.

Civil Society Organizations have been advocating for equitable access to PrEP, highlighting that many developing countries, which bear a significant burden of HIV, find such preventive measures unaffordable. In Uganda, the number of people using oral PrEP has surged from 800 in 2017 to about 700,000 currently. However, health workers observe fluctuations in this number, with many users discontinuing due to the challenges of daily medication.

Cabotegravir, initially costly and inaccessible to countries like Uganda, is now subsidized to about $35 per dose. Furthermore, another preventive drug, Lenacapavir, has shown promise in clinical trials. This drug, administered only twice a year, was found to be 100% effective in preventing HIV infection.

Dr. Flavia Matovu Kiweewa, a Senior Research Scientist at the Makerere University – John Hopkins University Research Collaboration (MUJHU), stated that participants in the Lenacapavir study in Uganda, conducted in Mityana, Kalangala, and Masaka, will continue to receive the drug until it becomes generally available in public health facilities.