Lawyers Alert, a Justice Sector Civil Society Organization, has commended the Federal Government of Nigeria, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), and the National HIV, Viral Hepatitis, and STDs Control Programme (NASCP) for the introduction of the long-active HIV prevention injection, Lenacapavir, into Nigeria.
This was made known to newsmen through a press release signed by Dr. Rommy Mom, President of Lawyers Alert, on Thursday in Makurdi. He described the development as very important, saying it marks a significant step towards expanding HIV prevention options and demonstrates continued efforts to strengthen the national HIV response in the country.
Dr. Mom stated that Nigerians, especially key and vulnerable populations, need long-acting prevention options like this, which have the potential to reduce stigma, improve adherence, and increase uptake of preventive services. He celebrated this important scientific milestone, emphasising that a medical breakthrough such as this should be accessible to those who need it most.
He further emphasize that, despite global efforts to reduce the price of Lenacapavir for low-income countries, the current cost remains beyond the reach of most Nigerians especially in an economy where many struggle with the rising cost of living, a price tag of $40 per year per person represents a significant barrier to access in terms of affordability.
According to Dr Mom “The key question remains whether those who need it most will actually be able to access it. There is a risk that this innovation could remain limited to a small segment of the population if affordability is not prioritised from the outset as the country cannot continue to rely on the benevolence of donors or limited shipments to protect millions of Nigerians. Nigeria need a systemic solution that removes the price barrier entirely” Dr Mom stated.
He further stressed that, access to HIV prevention is a fundamental component of the right to health, as recognised under the national and international human rights frameworks. As such, this promising long-acting HIV prevention injection, Lenacapavir, must not become a luxury product for a few but rather a widely accessible public health intervention available to all who need it. Nigeria’s HIV response must therefore ensure that new biomedical innovations and medicines are not only introduced but are also accessible, affordable, and available to all, especially key and vulnerable populations who remain disproportionately affected by HIV.
Dr Mom appealed to Nigerian government to lead efforts to ensure equitable access, technology transfer and frameworks within global intellectual property regimes, including mechanisms available under international trade agreements that enable expanded access to essential medicines, stressing that Nigeria as a country, should demand certain Technology Transfer under the TRIPS agreement framework to ensure that this is not treated as a luxury product, but as a basic human right accessible to every affected Nigerian.
He reiterated Lawyers Alert’s commitment to advancing a rights-based response to HIV in Nigeria by advocating for equitable access to prevention, treatment, and care for all, especially vulnerable and underserved communities. “As Nigeria introduces new prevention innovations such as Lenacapavir, we will continue to engage government institutions, civil society partners, and affected communities to ensure that these interventions are deployed in a manner that is transparent, inclusive, affordable, and non-discriminatory”
The press release also appealed for equitable and sustainable access to life-saving and preventive medicines, suggesting that one of the pathways to sustainable HIV prevention can be achieved through local manufacturing. It strongly advocates for local licensing, technology transfer, and domestic manufacturing arrangements that will enable Nigerian pharmaceutical companies to produce these medicines locally. It is strongly believed that this approach would significantly reduce costs, strengthen supply chains, and support large-scale distribution across the country, ensuring that the medicines reach the most affected members of the community.
Lawyers Alert is working in six African countries: Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Malawi, and Zimbabwe. It works at the intersection of law, health rights, particularly HIV and TB, and works with key populations, particularly women, Persons affected by Tuberculosis, Persons living with HIV, slum dwellers, Prisoners, Persons with Disabilities among other intervention programmes.
