NGO sees rollout of lenacapavir as defining moment, though affordability remains a concern
NAIROBI, KENYA – In observance of World AIDS Day on Dec. 1, CFK Africa, an international nonprofit that empowers youth in 26 slums across East Africa through integrated health and leadership initiatives, is preparing for the highly anticipated 2026 rollout of lenacapavir, a revolutionary injectable drug for HIV prevention and treatment.
“The world has fought HIV and AIDS for four decades, and every inch of progress has been slow and hard-won,” said Jeffrey Okoro, chief executive officer of CFK Africa. “But this new drug changes the game. It has the potential to significantly speed up our fight and quickly improve health outcomes.”
Okoro says that the new twice-yearly antiretroviral treatment shows great promise for high-risk groups, especially healthcare workers, even as the final distribution strategy is being developed. Kenya has an HIV infection rate of 3.3%, with 1.3 million people living with the virus, and young women and low-income communities are the most affected.
Over the past five years, CFK Africa has tested over 22,000 patients for HIV and treated more than 3,500 at its clinics in Kibera, the world’s largest informal settlement situated on the outskirts of Nairobi. With 1,400 patients currently on antiretroviral medication, receiving counseling and support through its community health programs, CFK Africa also works with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to host one of the largest overseas population-based infectious disease surveillance initiatives, monitoring the spread of contagious diseases.
Okoro said that these efforts have underscored the importance of including community engagement in any distribution plan for the lenacapavir rollout. He pointed to CFK Africa’s trained community health promoters who helped dispel misinformation and encouraged their friends and neighbors to get the Covid vaccine during the height of the pandemic.
He also noted the affordability concern around lenacapavir, especially in slums like Kibera, where most residents live on less than $3 a day. The $40 per year for two injections of lenacapavir remains out of reach for the 4.9 million youth in Kenyan slums.
“Fighting HIV requires more than just handing out medication,” added Okoro. “We need to actively involve the community to build understanding of this new prevention and treatment, and we must prioritize outreach and access for the groups that will benefit most.”
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About CFK Africa
Founded in 2001, CFK Africa is an international nonprofit that empowers youth in slums in Africa through integrated health and leadership initiatives. Using a participatory development approach, the organization works directly with community residents to develop and implement sustainable programs. Operating in 26 informal settlements across East Africa, the organization is set to launch an innovative youth development and public health network throughout Africa in 2026, as it approaches its 25th year of service in Kenya. For more information, visit www.cfkafrica.org.