Story by Abigirl Tembo, Health Editor
ZIMBABWE is intensifying its efforts to eliminate mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV, with health authorities expanding prevention and treatment programmes nationwide. Central to the initiative is the recent introduction of Lenacapavir, a long-acting antiretroviral drug expected to strengthen protections for women and infants.
The drug, introduced last month, is positioned as a complementary tool in the country’s prevention of mother-to-child transmission strategy, particularly protecting HIV-negative women from infection during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
In an interview with ZBC News, Dr Angela Mushavi, National Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission and Paediatric HIV Care and Treatment Coordinator at the Ministry of Health and Child Care, stressed the importance of safeguarding HIV-negative women.
“If a woman becomes infected during pregnancy or breastfeeding, there is a high chance she can transmit the virus to the infant, and that defeats our goal of eliminating mother-to-child transmission,” Dr Mushavi said.
However, the risk of infection for infants increases if a mother who initially tested negative acquires HIV during pregnancy or the breastfeeding period.
She said the introduction of Lenacapavir will complement existing prevention measures by providing an additional protective option for women who are HIV negative but remain at risk of infection.
“Lenacapavir will complement our efforts because while we are treating women who are HIV positive, we are also preventing new infections among women who are negative during pregnancy and breastfeeding,” she said.
According to Dr Mushavi, evidence from clinical studies has shown encouraging safety results for women who use the medication as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis.
She added that the Ministry of Health and Child Care will continue monitoring the drug’s rollout through pharmacovigilance systems to track birth outcomes and detect any potential side effects.
Dr Mushavi also noted that the intervention could significantly reduce new HIV infections among adolescent girls and young women, who remain disproportionately affected by the epidemic.
Zimbabwe is currently developing the Zimbabwe National HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan, which sets ambitious targets to accelerate progress towards eliminating mother-to-child transmission.
Dr Mushavi said the strategy aims to ensure that by 2030, at least 95 percent of pregnant women living with HIV are receiving antiretroviral treatment, while preventive options such as pre-exposure prophylaxis and long-acting medicines like Lenacapavir are expanded among women who are HIV negative.
