South Africa rolls out game-changing HIV shot amid funding shortfalls

Article excerpt

South Africa is rolling out lenacapavir, a new HIV prevention injection administered twice yearly, offering a potential turning point in the country's battle against one of the world's most severe epidemics. The shot represents a significant advance over daily pills, which many patients struggle to take consistently. However, the effort faces twin obstacles: shrinking U.S. aid funding and a global shortage of doses that limits how quickly the country can reach the millions who need protection. Health officials must navigate the tension between the promise of this breakthrough and the harsh reality of constrained resources.