Masaka rolls out 6-month HIV prevention injection

Medics in the Masaka sub-region have rolled out the use of injectable Lenacapavir amid calls for behavior change as a preventive measure in the fight against HIV.

Addressing journalists in Masaka City during a health science café on June 19, Robert Bbosa, Infectious Diseases Institute Masaka Region Biomedical Prevention Specialist, urged people in the region to work on behaviors that expose them to the risk of infection while using available biomedical prevention products.

He explained that several health facilities in the Masaka sub-region have been supplied with LEN doses.

“People are turning up in big numbers to get the product. However, few facilities have been supplied with the doses in the first phase, but those that may not be able to obtain the injectable Lenacapavir can use other available preventive measures, as they are also proven to offer protection to users,” Bbosa said.

Health facilities that have supplies of LEN, according to Mr Bbosa, include Masaka Regional Referral Hospital with about 40 doses, Sembabule Health Centre III which got 30, Bukakkata Health Centre III with 40, and Kasensero Health Centre III, among other facilities, though some like Sembabule and Kasensero have already reported stockouts.

“We have about 26 facilities in the Wakiso-Masaka cluster which are benefiting in the first phase of the supply of LEN. Five of these facilities are in Masaka, and the rest are in Wakiso. Four facilities have already received LEN and TASO Masaka is yet to receive the commodity,” he added.

He said health workers have been sensitized on how LEN is administered, and the public is being educated about LEN and other options so people can get the right information about the commodity.

“LEN is offering people alternative preventive measures they can choose from, so people should not be so excited about LEN and abandon the other available measures like PEP, PrEP, and the ring, and the existing injectable option, because some have similar efficacy levels,” he added.

Masaka is giving priority to expectant mothers, adolescents, and groups at high risk of infection, such as people who use drugs and those exposed to domestic violence, among other vulnerable communities, to receive LEN.

Masaka District Health Officer, Dr Faith Nakiyimba, however raised concern over high cases of new infections among adolescents in the sub-region despite several efforts put in place to fight new infections.

She blamed the increasing number of new infections on complacency, but said she is optimistic the new product will boost the fight against HIV since people have gotten used to available preventive measures.

“Greater Masaka sub-region registered 8,154 new HIV infections within the last six months. Of these, 4,814 were females, 3,112 were males, and 124 were children below the age of 15. This is still a big number and we are optimistic that the new commodity will boost the fight against such high cases still registered,” she added.

She said Masaka was given priority to benefit in the first phase of the rollout of Lenacapavir since the district has high numbers of people at high risk, such as truck drivers, mobile communities at landing sites, and people involved in commercial sex work.

“The challenge we have with oral PrEP as a preventive measure is that incidentally some people drop off along the way despite people seeking PrEP in large numbers. We think that the rollout of LEN is going to address some of these challenges, but people are advised to use other preventive measures which are readily available if they cannot access it,” she added.

What you need to know about LENThe medication is available in both injectable and tablet forms. During initial administration, healthcare workers inject the drug on both sides of the abdomen, about five centimeters from the navel. On the same day, the recipient takes two tablets, followed by another two tablets the next day.

This combination initiates six months of protection against HIV infection.Subsequent six-month doses require only the injection, without additional tablets. Lenacapavir is not a vaccine, but a preventive medication.

Masaka sub-region, where the first HIV case in Uganda was identified in 1982, has consistently had the highest HIV burden in the country according to data from three consecutive national HIV/AIDS surveys: 10.6% in 2011, 8.0% in 2016 and 8.1% prevalence in 2020.

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