MAPUTO, July 25 (Xinhua) -- The National AIDS Council of Mozambique has said that it will enhance the country's HIV prevention strategy with the introduction of a new injectable medication.
Francisco Mbofana, executive secretary of the National AIDS Council, shared the news on Thursday in an interview with state media Radio Mozambique, stressing that the new medication is intended exclusively for individuals who are not HIV-positive.
"This is an additional method we are introducing to complement the existing HIV prevention tools, and it is a pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) injection designed to create conditions that prevent HIV infection," said Mbofana.
The first shipment of the medication is expected to arrive in Mozambique during the first quarter of 2026. The 80,000 to 90,000 doses are anticipated to benefit between 30,000 and 40,000 individuals.
This development comes at a time when Mozambique is making notable progress in the fight against HIV, marked by a reduction in new infections, increased awareness of HIV status, and a decline in HIV-related deaths.
However, these gains are at risk due to the withdrawal of critical funding that has supported HIV prevention and treatment efforts, particularly in health fragile contexts like Mozambique.
"We are actively exploring alternative funding sources and reassessing how HIV prevention and treatment programs are financed," Mbofana added. ■
