The Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ), in partnership with the Ministry of Health, through the Lusaka Provincial Health Office (LPHO), the National HIV/AIDS/STI/TB Council and its partners, recently held a demand creation training for Long-Acting Cabotegravir (CAB-LA), a groundbreaking injectable form of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

The training brought together healthcare workers from several health facilities, marking a significant step in Zambia’s HIV prevention strategy.

CIDRZ’s HIV Testing and prevention lead, under PROUD Z, Dr Monica Chibesakunda, expressed gratitude for the presence and commitment of LPHO, LDHO and the participants.

She highlighted that the success of CAB-LA does not solely depend on scientific innovation but also on the dedication of health workers and community advocates who will lead its rollout on the ground.

“This is a major milestone in our fight against HIV, but innovation alone cannot save lives. People do. You are the ones who build trust with clients, address their concerns, and make it possible for interventions like CAB-LA to reach those who need them most,” she said.

Dr Monica Chibesakunda emphasised the importance of following HIV prevention national guidelines and maintaining confidentiality and professionalism in all client interactions.

Meanwhile, Dr Janet Muyunda, TB/HIV Coordinator at Lusaka District Health Office, encouraged participants to share the knowledge acquired during the training with their colleagues and become examples of best practices in their health facilities.

“Please go and be shining examples,” she said. “Make sure the knowledge gained here is passed on to others, so everyone understands more about CAB-LA.”

She also commended CIDRZ for its consistent technical support to national health programs, reaffirming the Ministry of Health’s commitment to ensuring that innovative interventions like CAB-LA are scaled up effectively and equitably.

The training comes at a critical time as Zambia intensifies efforts to reach the global goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. CIDRZ and its partners are hopeful that with proper training, community mobilization, and strong health system support, CAB-LA will significantly reduce HIV transmission and improve health outcomes across the country.

Zambia is proud to be one of only five countries currently offering CAB-LA, the long-acting injectable PrEP for HIV prevention. Implementation has been conducted in a phased approach, initially in five(5) provinces across the country, and now being scaled up, marking a significant step forward in expanding access to innovative HIV prevention services.

Dial *765# for more information about Injectable PrEP and to find the location of your nearest clinic or visit www.moh.gov.zm.