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Our HIV reporting of the past decade

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A large chunk of our reporting focuses on HIV. Since the launch of Bhekisisa in 2013, we’ve covered HIV in-depth — from the impact of the virus on former president Nelson Mandela’s family to the advances in antiretroviral treatment and anti-HIV pills and injections. We’ve also looked at the impact of inequality and discrimination on the spread of HIV, the link between gender-based violence and HIV — and ways to fix it.

HomeBhekisisa SpacesWhy SA needs the anti-HIV injection — for R120 a pop

Why SA needs the anti-HIV injection — for R120 a pop

  • The HIV prevention injection called long-acting cabotegravir (aka CAB-LA), currently costs more than R300 000 per person for a year’s supply in the United States.
  • This prices the medicine out of range for many governments, including South Africa’s. If nothing changes, South Africa will not have access to the injection and people will have to rely on other HIV prevention measures, like the oral pill Truvada or the vaginal ring.
  • The injection could be made for as little as R300 per person, shows research conducted by the Clinton Health Access Initiative. But the drug’s manufacturer shows few signs of slashing the cost.

HIV researcher Linda-Gail Bekker, Yogan Pillay from the Clinton Health Access Initiative (Chai) and activist Yvette Raphael joined us for Bhekisisa’s first Twitter Spaces event. Listen as they discuss why injectable HIV prevention methods need to be affordable.

  • Read the full transcript here.
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