Zimbabwe becomes first African nation to approve HIV prevention drug

Zimbabwe has already reached a target called 90-90-90 – 90% of people living with HIV knowing their status, 90% getting antiretroviral treatment and 90% having the virus suppressed. Photograph: Jekesai Njikizana/AFP/Getty Images

Zimbabwe has become the first country in Africa and the third in the world to approve an HIV prevention drug recently recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Regulators in Australia and the US have already given their backing to use the long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA), and the WHO welcomed the move by Zimbabwe.