Meet the first South African women to get the anti-HIV jab
South Africa had 200,000 new HIV infections in 2021, according to UNAids. A new injection called CAB-LA could be a game-changer
01 December 2022 - 07:00
byMohale Moloi, Yolanda Mdzeke, Dylan Bush, Jessica Pitchford, Mia Malan and Ntuthuko Gumbi
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Long-acting cabotegravir (CAB-LA) is a two-monthly jab that can prevent HIV infections through sex. It virtually nullifies people’s chances of contracting the virus and it’s more effective than the daily prevention pill that’s currently available in South Africa.
Who is this injection for? Anyone who’s worried about contracting the virus. But young African women (among whom new infections are highest) stand to benefit the most because the jab eliminates the stress of taking a pill every day.
For this World Aids Day edition of Bhekisisa’s television show Health Beat, we speak to CAB-LA’s manufacturer (ViiV), the scientists who’ve been testing it and the first women in the country to use the jab.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Meet the first South African women to get the anti-HIV jab
South Africa had 200,000 new HIV infections in 2021, according to UNAids. A new injection called CAB-LA could be a game-changer
This story was produced by the Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism. Sign up for the newsletter.
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