LVCT Health has partnered with the National AIDS and STI Control Programme (NASCOP) to support the rollout of injectable PrEP in 15 counties across Kenya, expanding HIV prevention choices for populations at substantial risk of infection.
The initiative seeks to strengthen county capacity to deliver person-centred PrEP services and increase access to innovative HIV prevention options.
The programme targets counties participating in Phase One of Kenya’s expanded PrEP rollout, including Nairobi, Kiambu, Kajiado, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Siaya, Migori, Kisii, Kakamega, Busia, Uasin Gishu, Nakuru, and other participating counties.
LVCT Health Executive Director Dr. Lilian Otiso said county governments and communities will play a critical role in ensuring the successful introduction and uptake of injectable PrEP services.
“We have learned over the last two decades that new innovations succeed when communities are involved in designing their delivery within the health systems. This is about working with counties and communities to make prevention options available in a way that makes it easy for people to access and use,” Dr. Otiso said.
Counties Share Lessons on HIV Prevention Innovations
The learning forum, currently underway in Nairobi, has brought together county HIV teams, healthcare providers, community resource persons, and other stakeholders involved in HIV prevention programming.
Participants are sharing experiences, lessons learned, and best practices from integrating new HIV prevention technologies into routine health services.
The counties are discussing the rollout of two-monthly injectable Cabotegravir and six-monthly Lenacapavir alongside daily oral PrEP, offering individuals a wider range of prevention options that suit their needs, preferences, and lifestyles.
Dr. Otiso noted that LVCT Health remains committed to supporting county governments in integrating HIV prevention innovations into routine healthcare services while responding to the unique needs of the communities they serve.
Expanding HIV Prevention Through Choice
The introduction of long-acting injectable PrEP marks a significant milestone in Kenya’s HIV prevention efforts by addressing barriers that have affected uptake and adherence to daily oral PrEP.
For some individuals, stigma, privacy concerns, and the challenge of taking medication every day have made consistent use of oral PrEP difficult. Injectable PrEP offers an alternative that can provide greater convenience, discretion, and flexibility.
The HIV prevention choice approach seeks to empower individuals to select the prevention method that best aligns with their circumstances. While access to injectable PrEP is expanding, daily oral PrEP remains an important and effective prevention option within Kenya’s comprehensive HIV prevention package.
Kenya’s Ongoing HIV Response
Kenya continues to make progress in its fight against HIV, with approximately 1.5 million people estimated to be living with the virus.
According to the 2026 Kenya AIDS Progress Report by the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC), the country continues to record thousands of new HIV infections annually, underscoring the need for innovative and accessible prevention strategies.
The expansion of PrEP choices is expected to contribute to reducing new infections by ensuring that more people can access prevention tools that fit their individual needs and circumstances.
Training Communities and Healthcare Providers
LVCT Health Head of Policy and PrEP Technologies, Patriciah Jeckonia, emphasized the importance of ensuring both communities and healthcare providers understand emerging HIV prevention technologies.
She said the HIV Prevention Ambassadors Training programme being implemented across the 15 counties has strengthened the capacity of community champions to provide accurate information, educate communities, and link individuals to appropriate HIV prevention services.
“For new HIV prevention technologies to be trusted by communities, they must first be well understood by communities and healthcare providers,” Jeckonia said.
She added that informed communities are essential to increasing acceptance, uptake, and sustained use of HIV prevention services.
The forum is also providing counties with an opportunity to exchange experiences, identify implementation challenges, and develop practical solutions for improving access to quality HIV prevention services.
NASCOP Calls for Informed HIV Prevention Choices
Ruth Kamau, HIV Prevention Officer at NASCOP, stressed the importance of ensuring individuals receive accurate information and unbiased counselling when selecting HIV prevention methods.
She noted that healthcare providers should support clients to make informed choices based on their individual circumstances rather than promoting one prevention option over another.
The approach, she said, ensures communities have access to balanced information and can confidently choose the HIV prevention method that works best for them.
LVCT Health’s Commitment to Health Transformation
LVCT Health is an African data-enabled health organization dedicated to improving health outcomes among vulnerable populations through innovative, evidence-based solutions.
The organization works with governments, communities, and development partners to strengthen health systems and deliver community-based, digital, and integrated health interventions.
With a goal of reaching 30 million people across Africa by 2030, LVCT Health continues to implement programmes focused on HIV and TB prevention and care, adolescent sexual and reproductive health, mental health, gender-based violence response, maternal health, community health systems, digital health innovation, antimicrobial resistance, and emerging public health challenges.
Through strategic partnerships and locally driven solutions, the organization continues to advance equitable access to quality healthcare and improve lives across the continent.
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