Insight: Ntando Yola on Youth, Trust, and the Launch of the Lenacapavir HIV Prevention Jab

We are incredibly proud to highlight a powerful new piece written by APHA member Ntando Yola, recently published in Spotlight.

Writing in the wake of the historic national launch of the twice-yearly lenacapavir injection in Secunda, Mpumalanga, Ntando reflects on what this milestone truly represents. It is not just a triumph of laboratory science, but a profound testament to the courage, time, and trust of ordinary young South Africans.

Grounded in Community, Driven by Youth

As South Africa marks 50 years since the June 1976 youth uprising, Ntando draws a moving parallel to today’s generation. Once again, young South African - particularly young South African women - are standing at the forefront of a movement for freedom. This time, it is the dream of an HIV-free future.

"Those gains were not produced in laboratories alone; they depended on ordinary people volunteering their time, their bodies, their trust... Their participation is the moral foundation of the scientific progress we now celebrate." — Ntando Yola, APHA Co-Founder

Why Lenacapavir is a Game-Changer

Lenacapavir is an antiretroviral-containing injection administered just twice a year (every six months). For young people juggling the complex realities of daily life, this low-burden, highly predictable regimen eliminates the daily pressure of oral PrEP adherence. It offers flexible, robust protection that fits into their lives, rather than forcing their lives to fit the medication.

The national rollout represents a powerful collaboration across South African society:

• Scientific Stewardship: Led by researchers like Professor Linda-Gail Bekker (national principal investigator for the PURPOSE 1 study).

• Community Advocacy: Guided by leaders like Yvette Raphael to ensure ethical, community-centred research practices.

• Political Will: Anchored by the presence of President Cyril Ramaphosa and Health Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi at the launch, signalling that equitable rollout is a high national priority.

The Path Forward: Moving from Promise to Practice

While lenacapavir is a monumental breakthrough, Ntando reminds us that the work is far from over. At APHA, our core mission is advocating for the translation of research findings into actual public health policy and accessible programming.

To honour the volunteers who gave their bodies and trust to this science, the rollout must be ethical, affordable, and equitably distributed at the point of care. We must actively dismantle the structural and logistical barriers that keep these life-saving tools from reaching the people who need them most.

As an organisation, we extend our deepest gratitude to the volunteers, activists, and scientists who brought us to this historic moment. Now, let’s turn this scientific promise into everyday practice.

• Read the full opinion piece by Ntando Yola on Spotlight.