In a major breakthrough for public health, the city of Douala hosted the official launch of the pilot phase for long-acting injectable cabotegravir as pre-exposure prophylaxis (injectable PrEP) on July 9, 2026.
Presided over by Cameroon’s Minister of Public Health, Dr. Manaouda Malachie, the government announcement marks a critical step forward in the national HIV response, positioning scientific innovation at the core of prevention. Addressing technical and financial partners, United Nations agencies, and the media, the Minister noted that this initiative aligns with President Paul Biya’s vision of making public health protection a constant priority.
Although Cameroon has made significant progress against HIV, reducing prevalence to 2.6% among 15-to-49-year-olds, nearly 21,000 new infections are still recorded annually. The Minister emphasized that this reality demands strengthening current strategies with innovative solutions tailored to the needs of the most vulnerable populations.
Administered every two months, injectable PrEP offers a highly effective alternative to daily pills; while it does not replace condoms, testing, or regular medical checkups, it enhances the combined prevention toolkit and improves treatment adherence among high-risk individuals.
The pilot phase will be deployed in areas where transmission rates remain the most concerning, particularly in Douala, ensuring maximum health impact and the optimal use of available resources. Dr. Manaouda Malachie insisted that the rollout must be accompanied by rigorous public information, strict medical supervision, and active community engagement. This coordinated approach is essential to dismantling stigma, combating prejudice, and ensuring strong acceptance among beneficiaries.
Faced with shrinking international funding, the Cameroonian government is reaffirming its commitment to high-impact interventions. By introducing injectable cabotegravir, Cameroon consolidates its National Strategic Plan for the Fight Against AIDS 2024–2030. This milestone reinforces the nation’s ambitious goal to eliminate HIV as a public health threat by 2030.
