South Africa has launched its first-ever human HIV vaccine trial. It is a landmark for a country that remains the global epicentre of HIV. The long-term ambition is clear. Scientists want a safe, affordable vaccine given in the first year of life, with no need for repeat doses. The trial, known as BRILLIANT 011, is a first-in-human study. It has…
Tag: HIV Prevention
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2026 Healthcare Watchlist: Nine Healthcare Stories to Track
Twenty-twenty-six is shaping up as a year of sharp policy fights, fast-moving science, and stubborn system failures. Spotlight’s 2026 Healthcare Watchlist will track nine stories that could shift budgets, reshape services, and test public trust. A limited rollout of a new HIV prevention injection could be a turning point for prevention options. Weight-loss medicines are evolving rapidly, with new oral…
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HIV Prevention in SA Needs Local Lenacapavir Manufacturing
South Africa stands at a pivotal moment in its long battle against HIV. While the country has made remarkable strides since the mass rollout of antiretrovirals, boosting rural life expectancy by over 10 years, a new medical innovation could accelerate progress even further. Experts warn that unless stakeholders prioritise local manufacturing, the drug’s full potential for HIV prevention may remain…
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Lenacapavir in Short Supply Amid HIV Epidemic in Africa
International health activists and civil society organisations have launched a scathing critique of pharmaceutical giant Gilead Sciences and the US government. They say that Lenacapavir is in short supply and woefully inadequate to slow Africa’s epidemic. The backlash follows a joint announcement earlier this week by the US government and the Global Fund to Fight HIV/Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria regarding…
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China’s HIV Prevention Funding Targets Vulnerable Youth
In a significant boost to South Africa’s public health resources, China has announced a $3.49 million (approximately R60 million) donation. This donation will expand critical HIV prevention funding. The investment is specifically earmarked to support young people and injecting drug users. These are demographics that currently lag behind the country’s treatment and prevention targets. The funding announcement comes at a…
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Sakeliga’s NHI Legal Battle for Constiutional Justice
Sakeliga’s NHI Legal Battle has garnered attention. The business lobby group Sakeliga has become the latest organisation to mount a legal challenge against South Africa’s contentious National Health Insurance (NHI) Act. They filed papers at the Pretoria High Court to have it declared unconstitutional and invalid. The focus of Sakeliga’s NHI Legal Battle is to highlight the impracticalities and financial…
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Lenacapavir for HIV Prevention in South Africa
South Africa is taking a giant step in its fight against HIV. The Department of Health announced plans to make a new, twice-yearly anti-HIV injection available in public clinics. The drug, lenacapavir, represents a potential turning point for HIV prevention. It could significantly curb new infections across the nation. Introducing lenacapavir for HIV prevention could change the landscape of health…
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HIV/AIDS Funding Gap: Government Steps In
The South African government has stepped in with a crucial R753.5 million injection from the National Treasury to sustain the nation’s HIV/Aids programmes. This vital funding seeks to close the HIV/AIDS funding gap. The withdrawal of the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) significantly impacted this gap. This move had threatened to derail decades of progress in…
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HIV Crisis: Impact of US Aid Cuts on Treatment
South Africa’s hard-won gains against the ongoing HIV crisis and AIDS are facing a perilous new challenge following significant cuts to US funding. These cuts have sparked fears of a resurgence in infections and deaths. Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, once lauded for his decisive action against the epidemic, is now under intense scrutiny for his response to the escalating…
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HIV Funding Cuts and Their Impact on South Africa
US funding cuts for HIV relief could be devastating. South Africa may see a resurgence of the epidemic. A new study predicts many additional HIV infections. This could be between 150,000 and 295,000 by 2028. The study shows the impact of HIV funding cuts in South Africa. The National Department of Health commissioned the study. Researchers from UCT and Wits…
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“Close the Gap” HIV campaign targets 1.1m more on treatment
The South African government launched the “Close the Gap” campaign in February, aiming to set an ambitious target of placing an additional 1.1 million people living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART) by the end of 2025. With approximately 7.8 million individuals in the country living with HIV and 5.9 million currently receiving treatment, this initiative seeks to increase the…