The department urged clients to attend all scheduled appointments after initiation.
Image: Gauteng Health/ Supplied
On Monday, the Gauteng Department of Health announced the arrival of 28 593 new Lenacapavir initiation packs in the province.
These packs are being distributed to 133 healthcare facilities, restoring access after high demand caused temporary shortages in some areas.
New stock reaches Tshwane, Johannesburg and Sedibeng
Gauteng health spokesperson Steve Mabona announced that a fresh delivery would replenish facilities in Tshwane, Johannesburg and Sedibeng that had run low after the successful rollout of Lenacapavir in June 2026.
He said the province had now received 57 231 initiation packs in total across three batches by the end of July 2026.
“Gauteng had already initiated 17 937 eligible clients on Lenacapavir.”
Mabona added that the province has enough stock allocated to initiate 114 160 eligible clients between June 2026 and March 2027, with further supplies expected quarterly.
MEC welcomes strong public uptake
Health and Wellness MEC Faith Mazibuko said the response to the six-monthly injection had been encouraging.
“The overwhelming demand for Lenacapavir is a positive sign that more people are embracing HIV prevention services and taking charge of their health,” she said.
She added that the demand highlighted a need for prevention options that were “convenient, effective, and responsive to people’s lifestyles and circumstances.”
Mabona said the shortages reflected demand exceeding initial projections, and that the department was “working around the clock to replenish stock.”
Injection remains for prevention, not treatment
The department reminded communities that Lenacapavir is not an HIV treatment.
Mabona said some people living with HIV had mistakenly requested the injection, so healthcare workers “continue to provide education on its purpose and eligibility criteria.”
He said clients must first undergo HIV testing, and that Lenacapavir does not protect against STIs or pregnancy, so condom use and regular screening were still encouraged.
Daily oral PrEP, he said, “remains a vital HIV prevention option” and continues to be available alongside the injection, since Lenacapavir “is intended to complement, not replace, existing prevention methods.”
Follow-up visits critical, department says
The department urged clients to attend all scheduled appointments after initiation.
Mabona said clients must return after one month, then every six months for further injections, for “HIV retesting, clinical monitoring, and addressing any questions or concerns that clients may have.”
