Rwanda Among Countries Set to Receive Long-Acting HIV Prevention Drug

April 15, 2026 - Rwanda is among a group of countries expected to benefit from the expanded rollout of a long-acting HIV prevention drug as part of a global initiative led by the United States and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The program aims to make the drug, Lenacapavir, accessible to at least three million people by 2028. Developed by Gilead Sciences, the treatment has already been introduced in nine African countries, with plans underway to extend distribution to an additional 12 nations. Alongside Rwanda, the next phase of the rollout is expected to include countries such as Dominican Republic, Fiji, Indonesia, Morocco, and Thailand. The Global Fund signed an agreement with Gilead in July 2025 to supply at least two million doses of the drug over a five-year period to low- and middle-income countries. Humanitarian organization Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) welcomed the initiative but cautioned that current distribution levels remain insufficient compared to global demand. Lenacapavir is administered via injection twice a year and is designed to prevent HIV infection by inhibiting the virus’s ability to replicate in the body. Health experts highlight its potential advantage over daily oral preventive treatments, as its long-acting formulation may improve adherence among patients. Global health stakeholders say the expansion of access to such treatments could play a significant role in reducing new HIV infections, particularly in regions with high prevalence rates.