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The anti-HIV jab Buhle trusts – and 456 000 South Africans can soon get for free
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Sunday World
For the past three years, Buhle Sikade (22) has been using an injection—called lenacapavir (LEN)—that gives her almost foolproof protection against getting HIV through sex.
Around 456 000 other HIV-negative people in South Africa will be able to get the medicine from 360 government clinics for free from April 1.
LEN is taken once every six months and injected into the fat under the skin in someone’s tummy.
Sikade moved from Willowvale in the rural Eastern Cape to Masiphumelele, a township near Kommetjie in the Western Cape, in 2016.
Why Buhle takes LENSikade decided to join Purpose 1 because her age group—women between 15 and 24 years of age—gives her a high chance of getting HIV.