HIV prevention jab offers hope in Uganda but doses are hard to find

One and a half million people in Uganda are living with HIV. In the western city of Mbarara, the infection rate is 10% of the population, double the national average. Health authorities say infection trends are driven by people paying for sex and inconsistent use of condoms. Once infected, they continue to spread the virus. Many people have poor health-seeking behaviours. If I'm not sick, if I'm not feeling headache, I cannot go to the facility. But HIV will just be in there as you're waiting to get the headache and the diarrhea. It has already, and you're already spreading into another person. Lencapavir is a twice-yearly injectable drug that prevents HIV infection. It offers a reliable alternative to preventative pills people can forget to take. health authorities identified Mbarara as a priority area for deploying the jab after the U.S. offered to help Uganda get hold of it. But shortages mean those who need it most don't have access. They want to learn because you see it is long-lasting. Six months at least can give someone a breathing space. And again, learn once they inject it in your body. it is it is good because it's not like these pills that you're carrying every day moreover this person he's on hiv positive also has a bottle and then you are negative also have that bottle of the prep so it has been bringing issues and even the pill burden taking drugs every day every While a vaccine to prevent HIV is still much needed, some experts say the shot could be the next best thing. It nearly eliminated new infections in two groundbreaking studies of people at high risk. You say one shot, one shot you have done something great. So meaning if they have come and you have prevented this person from getting the infection, Because you know one person can infect even a thousand, so many of them are playing a big role. So we can't disregard it as a positive. It's a very big positive because you know how HIV moves. The US and the Global Fund want to purchase Lencapavir for up to 3 million people by the end of 2028. Generic supply is expected by the end of this year.