JOHANNESBURG, 8 June 2026 — Tiko South Africa welcomes the historic official launch of Lenacapavir on Friday by President Cyril Ramaphosa and Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi in Secunda, Mpumalanga. This milestone represents South Africa’s most significant advance in HIV prevention in a generation. As one of four Tiko countries among the nine Global Fund priority rollout nations, Tiko stands ready to ensure this scientific breakthrough translates into real, sustained protection for the girls who need it most. 

Across sub-Saharan Africa, women and girls account for 62% of new infections, which is nearly double the global average. The Minister’s explicit prioritisation of adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in Phase 1 of the rollout recognises the urgency of the crisis and demonstrates the government’s commitment to ending it. According to Statistics South Africa’s 2025 Mid-Year Population Estimates, an estimated 8.15 million people in South Africa are living with HIV. Within that burden, AGYW bear a wholly disproportionate share: every week, around 1,000 adolescent girls and young women in South Africa acquire HIV. 

Speaking on the rollout, Tiko South Africa Country Director, Sheilla Benyera said: 

“We are excited about the potential this rollout holds for the young women we support, because expanding access to effective, youth-friendly, and girl-centered prevention options sits at the very heart of our mission. However, the true impact is realised only when scientific breakthroughs are effectively implemented within the community. 

“We are fully energised to work alongside our government, partners and communities to ensure that Lenacapavir is accessible to the adolescent girls and young women who require it most. 

To achieve comprehensive protection, Lenacapavir should be integrated with essential tools like condoms. This represents more than a single clinical advancement; it is about providing a robust, holistic HIV prevention toolkit for every girl.”

From Innovation to Impact

Tiko South Africa’s teams have been embedded in rollout preparations from the outset, including partner training conducted by the Gauteng Department of Health. As stock is delivered to facilities, Tiko is activating the following initiatives across the Ekurhuleni, Johannesburg, and Tshwane Health Districts: 

• Community Mobilisation: Tiko’s Community-based organizations (CBOs) and trained mobilisers are already active in communities, providing accurate information on Lenacapavir directly to young women in their communities; clearing misconceptions, and building the demand and confidence girls need to seek services at their nearest Phase 1 facility.
• Direct Linkage to Services:  In the coming week, Tiko will deploy its integrated ecosystems to actively enroll and link girls directly to the 123 earmarked Phase 1 public health facilities across our primary footprints: Ekurhuleni, Johannesburg, and Tshwane Health Districts.
• Continuation Support: Through the Tiko digital app, girls will receive tailored behavioural nudges to  encourage proactive health habits and support Lenacapavir continuation.
• Real-Time Accountability: Tiko’s technology generates real-time data on referral completion and captures direct user feedback on clinic experiences, including provider attitudes. Crucially, it ensures that PrEP services remain transparent, youth-responsive, and completely free of provider stigma.

Tiko wholeheartedly echoes the Minister of Health’s mandate prioritising vulnerable, high-burden populations. Science has arrived but innovation means nothing without access. Guaranteeing delivery and free care is how we unlock the girl dividend. Investing in integrated Triple Threat care is how we are backing girls when it matters most so they can shape their futures.

Of the countries the Global Fund has prioritised for Lenacapavir rollout, Tiko operates in four — Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda. This reach, and the community infrastructure built over years, positions Tiko as a critical implementation partner not just in South Africa, but across the region. Science has given us a historic tool. The work now is to make sure every girl knows Lenacapavir is available, can access it freely, and stays protected.

Localised service provision remains a vital cornerstone for broadening healthcare reach across the public and private sectors. By leveraging our deep-rooted community infrastructure, Tiko’s Triple Threat model continues to demonstrate its power in connecting adolescent girls and young women to integrated services including family planning, sexual and gender-based violence support and mental health support. Through grassroots demand generation and strategic collaboration, Tiko is ensuring that girls possess the autonomy and diverse options necessary to safeguard their own futures.

About Tiko

Tiko strengthens the resilience of girls across Africa by protecting them from the “Triple Threat” of unintended pregnancy, HIV, and sexual and gender-based violence. We connect girls to free health and wellbeing services across health systems through a community-driven, tech-enabled model of care. By removing barriers and acting as their companion, Tiko helps girls shape their futures — where they can thrive.