TheHEALTH July/August 2025 | Page 7

July-August. 2025 | The HEALTH
FOREIGN NEWS

07

WHO recommends biennial PrEP

IN a recent announcement, the World Health Organisation( WHO) officially recommended injectable lenacapavir( LEN) as a new Human Immunodeficiency Virus( HIV) prevention option. This marks a major shift in global guidelines.

Announced at the International AIDS Society Conference( IAS 2025), LEN is the first twice-yearly injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis( PrEP) product.
With 1.3 million new HIV infections reported in 2024, global prevention efforts have stalled, making WHO’ s new guidelines timely. The burden remains highest among sex workers, LGBTQ + individuals, injecting drug users, prisoners, and youths.
“ While an HIV vaccine remains elusive, LEN is the next best thing: a long-acting antiretroviral shown in trials to prevent almost all HIV infections among those at risk,” said WHO Director-General( DG) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
WHO also simplified HIV testing, removing a major access barrier by enabling community-based delivery of long-acting injectable PrEP through pharmacies, clinics, and tele-health.
LEN, along with other WHOrecommended PrEP options like daily oral PrEP, injectable cabotegravir, and the dapivirine vaginal ring, contributes to the global effort to end the HIV epidemic.
Currently, access to LEN outside of clinical trials is limited. Hence, WHO urged governments, donors, and global health partners to immediately implement LEN across national combination HIV prevention programmes, collecting data on uptake, adherence, and impact.
Furthermore, WHO has issued new guidance to help countries sustain HIV services amid funding cuts. The guidance outlines a stepby-step framework for countries to streamline service prioritisation, risk assessment, monitor disruptions, and system adaptations.
WHO Department of Global HIV, Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections( STI) Programmes( HHS) Director Dr Meg Doherty stressed:“ We have the tools and the knowledge to end AIDS as a public health problem. What we need now is bold implementation of these recommendations, grounded in equity and powered by communities.”

Stronger together

THE Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention( Africa CDC), in collaboration with strategic health partners, has launched a joint roadmap for 2026 – 2027 aimed at strengthening health security in the region.
Africa CDC, through its Central Africa Regional Coordinating Centre( CA RCC), held a three-day workshop in Equatorial Guinea. It brought together institutional representatives from the Economic Community of Central African States( ECCAS), the Organisation for Coordination in the Fight Against Endemic Diseases in Central Africa( OCEAC), and the Economic and
Monetary Community of Central Africa( CEMAC).
The workshop resulted in a 2025 joint action plan, which will serve as an operational blueprint for the next few months. This plan outlines concrete actions to strengthen regional coordination and governance, reinforce integrated health systems, and control high-burden diseases.
Additionally, the plan focuses on improving surveillance, data collection, and early warning systems, alongside building national capacity in laboratory networks. While the joint action plan sets short-term priorities, long-term planning remains critical.
To support sustained action, the 2026 – 2027 roadmap aligns with key continental and regional frameworks. This includes Africa’ s New Public Health Order and the Africa CDC Strategic Plan 2023-2027.
It also supports broader frameworks such as regional strategic plans for preparedness and response to public health emergencies and cross-border disease surveillance efforts guided by the One Health approach.
“ This roadmap reflects our collective commitment to building a community that is better prepared, more resilient and more responsive to health threats. Coordination with Africa CDC and other regional health organisations is essential if we are to achieve genuine health security in Central Africa,” said ECCAS Health Department of the Commission Head Dr Peggy Raymonde Conjugo-Batoma.
A coordination and oversight framework has also been established to support the implementation of joint health initiatives in the region between 2025 and 2027. It introduces a clear system to improve collaboration, accountability, and alignment around common health priorities.
Equatorial Guinea’ s Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Mitoha Ondo’ o Ayekaba, emphasised the importance of this consensus:“ I welcome this initiative, which strengthens regional solidarity around our shared priorities.
“ The results of your work reflect not only the richness of your contributions but also the collective commitment and strong desire to face cross-border health threats together. They are also an illustration of strengthened regional cooperation between national institutions, regional economic communities and technical partners in the interests of our populations.”- The HEALTH