June 24, 2026, 9:43 a.m.
The Zimbabwe Association of Church-related Hospitals (ZACH) was proud to participate in the national launch of lenacapavir — a groundbreaking twice-yearly injectable HIV prevention drug — held in Epworth on 19 February 2026. The launch, presided over by the Minister of Health and Child Care, marked a significant milestone in Zimbabwe's HIV prevention strategy.
ZACH staff joined health officials, community leaders, and international partners at the Epworth event, where the ZACH stand attracted considerable interest from participants and dignitaries. Among the visitors was Ms Haddi Jatou Cham, HIV Services Branch Chief of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Zimbabwe, who toured the ZACH display and engaged with staff on the organisation's HIV prevention and treatment programmes across its member network.
Lenacapavir, developed by Gilead Sciences, has demonstrated over 99% efficacy in preventing HIV infection in clinical trials. Its twice-yearly dosing schedule addresses a critical barrier to consistent HIV prevention — offering an alternative to daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for populations at high risk. For ZACH's network of 135 member institutions operating in 63 districts across Zimbabwe, the availability of lenacapavir represents a new tool in the effort to reach the communities most in need of HIV prevention services, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach areas where ZACH facilities are often the primary point of care.