The Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) said last week that the government plans to introduce lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable drug for HIV prevention, in the last quarter of the year. ALSO READ: Rwanda welcomes news of HIV preventive drug to be offered at low cost The injection, which will be provided free of charge, is given once every six months and will be added to the country’s existing pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) options. The New Times spoke with people at higher risk of HIV infection to hear what they think about lenacapavir and how it could fit into their lives. ALSO READ: New drug offers hope against HIV, now the world must act Donatile Cyiza, a female sex worker living in Busanza, said lenacapavir would be a better option because it would require only two injections a year. She explained that this would be less stressful than taking daily PrEP pills and would also reduce transport costs and the time spent going to health facilities for refills. Cyiza has been using long-acting injectable PrEP known as cabotegravir (CAB-LA) for about a year, since it was launched in the country in January 2025 to help prevent HIV. CAB-LA is administered every two months at Gikondo and Busanza health centres in Kigali. She said switching to injectable PrEP made life easier, as she no longer has to worry about remembering to take pills every day. According to her, daily oral PrEP comes with strict conditions, including taking the medication at the same time each day without missing a dose. “There are times when I am busy, or I have taken some alcohol, or I simply forget to take the pills. That is why the two-month injectable was a lifesaver for me. I am glad that the six-month injectable is yet to be enrolled because it will give me longer protection, considering the kind of work I do,” she said. Beny Kwitonda, a gay man, said lenacapavir will help reduce new HIV infections. A resident of Nyarugenge District, Kwitonda is the founder of the Joint Action for Bright Future Alliance (JABFA), an organisation that promotes human rights, including rights related to HIV and other disease prevention. He said he had tried to access the six-month injectable while in Kenya, but the process was difficult because he was not a citizen. When Rwanda introduced the two-month injectable PrEP, he said he was excited by the option, as it offered longer-term protection compared to daily pills. “Although it has some side effects, like pain the day after the injection, I have no fear of acquiring HIV after having sex,” he said, adding that he has been using the two-month injectable since September 2025. Before opting for injectable PrEP, Kwitonda said he took time to research it and spoke with people who were already using it to better understand how it works and what to expect. Janvier Igabe, a youth ambassador with the Rwanda Network of People Living with HIV (RRP+), said lenacapavir would also make prevention easier for couples affected by HIV. He explained that his wife is living with HIV and takes her antiretroviral therapy daily, while he relies on prevention methods to remain HIV-negative. “My wife takes her antiretroviral medicines (ARVs) every day, but I am glad that this injectable will reduce the pressure that comes with remembering clinic dates to go back for medication once it runs out. The six-month option would bring added peace of mind,” he said Lenacapavir, an HIV prevention option, comes at a time when Rwanda is strengthening its prevention efforts, particularly for people at higher risk, according to Deo Mutambuka, the Executive Secretary of RRP+. “We are talking about female sex workers, men who have sex with men, and discordant couples, where one partner is living with HIV, and the other is not. For these groups, lenacapavir offers a new form of protection alongside existing measures. It is not a treatment, but it gives people more choices, reduces stigma, and makes prevention easier to access,” he said. Mutambuka noted that the injection is discreet and user-friendly, saying no one can tell if someone has received it. “It works best with programmes already in place, such as condom distribution, risk reduction services, and regular testing. Everyone living with HIV should continue treatment and maintain viral suppression, because when the virus is suppressed, it cannot be transmitted,” he said. He noted that the injectable is not a cure or a vaccine, adding that its impact will depend on how many people use it and how well it is accepted. He added that people need to understand their risk and continue using other prevention methods. “Rwanda has made strong progress in responding to HIV, and lenacapavir is another step forward. It gives us a chance to change how we prevent new infections, and we encourage HIV-negative people to consider it alongside other prevention methods already in place,” Mutambuka said.
