The Ministry of Health has announced the commencement of testing for the injectable anti-retroviral drug, CAB-LA (Cabotegravir Long-Acting) on over 800 Ugandans. This new initiative is aimed at assessing the effectiveness of the drug in preventing HIV transmission. Testing will take place across various parts of the country, with a particular focus on volunteers who wish to participate.
800 Ugandans are expected to receive the drug. CAB-LA is administered via injection and provides protection for two months, after which a follow-up injection is needed.
CAB-LA is designed to prevent HIV infection, even in cases where individuals engage in unprotected sex with HIV-positive individuals. The study will take place over a year.
Dr. Herbert Kadama, an HIV research specialist, stated that 800 doses of the drug are currently available, covering volunteers for the entire year. Additionally, an extra 3,500 doses will arrive in February 2024 and be distributed to 10 hospitals across Uganda. This additional supply is expected to provide treatment for an additional 500 individuals.
Uganda has seen a slight rise in HIV prevalence, increasing from 5% to 5.1%, with the most affected demographics being: Young girls aged 15-25 and divorced men aged 40 and older
Currently, there are 1.5 million Ugandans living with HIV, though 20,000 of them are not receiving treatment.