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From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
A Non Governmental Organization, Lawyers Alert has hailed the Federal Government, 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-acting HIV prevention injection, Lenacapavir, into Nigeria.
President of Lawyers Alert, Dr. Rommy Mom, who gave the commendation in a statement made available to newsmen in Makurdi on Thursday, said the development marks a significant step towards expanding HIV prevention options and demonstrates continued efforts to strengthen the national HIV response.
Mom noted that “For many Nigerians, especially key and vulnerable populations, long-acting prevention options like this have the potential to reduce stigma, improve adherence, and increase uptake of preventive services.”
He however emphasized that such medical breakthrough should be accessible to those who need it most, recalling that despite global efforts to reduce the price of Lenacapavir for low-income countries, the current cost remains beyond the reach of most Nigerians.
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According to him “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. 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. We cannot rely on the benevolence of donors or limited shipments to protect millions of Nigerians. We need a systemic solution that removes the price barrier entirely.”
Lawyers Alert called for equitable and sustainable access to life-saving and preventive medicines saying one of the pathways to sustainable HIV prevention is through local manufacturing.
The organization advocated strongly for local licensing, technology transfer, and domestic manufacturing arrangements that will enable Nigerian pharmaceutical companies to produce these medicines locally noting that the approach would significantly reduce costs, strengthen supply chains, and support large-scale distribution across the country, ensuring reach to the most affected communities.
While describing access to HIV prevention as a fundamental component of the right to health, Lawyers Alert said thie 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.
Mom call on the 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.
He expressed commitment of the organization 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.
