Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

3-minute read
01 July 2025 | 14:18 CAT

📸 A game-changing jab: MSF rolls out long-acting HIV prevention across Africa.

A long-acting injectable to prevent HIV could be a revolutionary step in curbing infections across Africa, but concerns remain about access and funding. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has begun rolling out CAB-LA, a two-monthly injection offering protection against HIV, in some of the hardest-hit regions, including Eswatini, where HIV remains the leading cause of death.

Speaking to Radio Islam International, MSF’s Djoki Joseph Bahati said: “This could be a game-changer, CAB-LA has proven highly effective in trials and offers people a private, discreet method of protection freeing them from the daily pill burden.”

While oral PrEP has been available for years, stigma and adherence challenges have limited its success. “Oral PrEP packaging often resembles HIV treatment, so people fear being mistaken for living with the virus,” Bahati explained. “The daily routine is also difficult to maintain, especially for women facing gender-based restrictions and judgment.”

CAB-LA circumvents these issues, requiring just one injection every two months. “It reduces social risk, enhances privacy, and supports better adherence,” said Bahati. He also highlighted the recent approval of another long-acting option, Lenacapavir, a biannual injection. “Imagine that just two injections per year. These tools could truly change the face of HIV prevention.”

But while science is advancing, funding is faltering. Bahati warned that global HIV initiatives face “an earthquake of uncertainty,” particularly due to possible U.S. cuts to PEPFAR, the world’s largest HIV/AIDS program. “PEPFAR has enabled countries like Eswatini to test, treat, and prevent HIV. With these cuts, we’re already seeing decreased testing, limited PrEP delivery, and shrinking prevention efforts. If not urgently addressed, this will reverse decades of progress.”

For CAB-LA and other innovations to work, Bahati stressed one point: “They must reach those at greatest risk. Without equitable access, especially in low- and middle-income countries, we risk widening the gap.”

As the tools to end HIV grow more sophisticated, the world must ensure no one is left behind. “The science is here,” Bahati concluded. “Now, the question is whether we have the political will and global solidarity to follow through.”

Listen to the full interview on The Daily Round-Up with Annisa Essack and MSF’s Djoki Joseph Bahati.