Share this article

Uganda’s forthcoming introduction of the Cabotegravir HIV prevention injection, set to launch in January. This innovation aims to reduce HIV transmission, with a focus on youth, and follows international guidelines endorsing its use.

The Uganda AIDS Commission has officially confirmed that the forthcoming HIV prevention injection, known as cabotegravir (CAB), will be introduced within the country’s borders for utilization starting in January of the following year. This intramuscular injection, constituting a single antiretroviral medication, will be administered every two months with the aim of averting HIV transmission.

Mr. Daniel Byamukama, the Director of HIV Prevention at the commission, affirmed that the injection’s protective effect extends for a duration of two months. Consequently, an individual who receives this injection and subsequently engages in sexual intercourse with an HIV-infected individual within that time frame will be shielded from contracting the virus.

In conjunction with the announcement of the National HIV/AIDS Symposium scheduled to take place from November 14 to 16, 2023, at Kololo in Kampala, Mr. Byamukama disclosed that all requisite preparations are in place, awaiting the authorization from the National Drug Authority for the public distribution of the injection.

According to the guidelines established by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2021, the US Preventive Services Task Force has conferred a favorable recommendation (grade IA) for the prescription of CAB as a Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) to adult patients who are at risk of contracting HIV through sexual contact.

Mr. Byamukama further emphasized that the incidence of new HIV cases and fatalities has significantly declined, with the current figure of positive cases standing at 1.3 individuals in the country. Notably, the majority of these cases pertain to the youth, specifically those between the ages of 15 and 29.

In addition, the World Health Organization, in its proclamation dated July 28, 2022, released updated guidelines advocating for the adoption of long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA) as a preventive measure (PrEP) against HIV. These guidelines, unveiled in advance of the 24th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2022), urge nations to explore this secure and highly efficacious prevention strategy for individuals facing a substantial risk of HIV infection. They are intended to support countries as they integrate CAB-LA into their overarching HIV prevention strategies and foster the vital research required to execute this initiative.