From 25th–27th May 2026, the SSLN convened a Pan-Prevention Workshop in Uganda, bringing together country champions from government, community networks, and implementing partners as part of the SSLN 3.0 transition process. Over the three-day workshop, participants completed the Pan-PSAT, generating structured, country-led insights on HIV prevention system strengths, bottlenecks, and priority actions aimed at improving programme effectiveness and sustainability. The workshop was officially opened by Dr. Byamukama Daniel Head of Prevention at the Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC), who delivered a presentation on the HIV Prevention 2030: A Global Access Framework for Country-Led Response and Uganda’s plans for domestication of the framework. Dr. Byamukama thanked SSLN for the continued partnership since Phase 1 and emphasized the importance of completing the Pan-PSAT process, noting that the findings would be instrumental in informing the Global Fund Cycle 8 (GC-8) process and the revision of Uganda’s HIV Prevention Roadmap. He further highlighted the value of cross-country learning and underscored the importance of data-driven decision-making in strengthening Uganda’s national HIV response. SSLN extends its appreciation to UGANDA AIDS COMMISSION, MoH Uganda, Alive Medical Services, UNFPA, AVAC, SPECTRUM , AWAC and all partners for their leadership, collaboration, and commitment to advancing a coordinated, country-owned HIV prevention response.

Lenacapavir is a long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) option, administered once every six months. For people who have found daily oral PrEP difficult to sustain, whether due to stigma, routine disruption, or personal preference, this represents a genuinely different offer. The science is strong, and a presidential launch sends a clear political signal about where HIV prevention sits on the national agenda. Implementation is already under way. Within days of the national launch, the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness commenced a phased rollout across 22 facilities serving communities with the highest HIV burden in the province. Early momentum matters. It signals that supply chain, facility readiness, and clinical protocols are being worked through in real time. The harder work, however, is still ahead. Demand creation, community trust, and sustained financing will determine whether lenacapavir reaches the people it was designed for. Expanding PrEP choices is meaningful when those choices are accessible, understood, and taken up. That requires community-based organisations, healthcare workers, and country programmes to be resourced and supported consistently, not only at the point of launch. South Africa's rollout adds to a growing body of implementation experience across sub-Saharan Africa as countries at different stages of lenacapavir introduction work through the same core questions: how to phase access equitably, how to build demand in high-burden communities, and how to sustain programmes beyond the launch moment. Each country's experience contributes to a collective evidence base, and facilitating that cross-country learning is at the heart of what we do. The launch is a marker, not a finish line. The sustained work of ensuring lenacapavir reaches the people it was designed for is what will determine its impact.

On May 25th and 26th, the South-South Learning Network (SSLN) convened a pivotal Pan-Prevention Workshop in Accra, Ghana. The event brought together dedicated HIV prevention champions from government agencies, donor agencies, community networks, and implementing partners. 🔑 Key Highlights: The Pan-PSAT Implementation: Country champions successfully completed the Pan-Prevention Self-Assessment Tool (Pan-PSAT) and the baseline capability and effectiveness survey. This fostered deep reflection on national programming and aligned key stakeholders on future priorities. Fueling Global Fund GC8: This vital process directly feeds into ongoing Global Fund GC8 discussions, ensuring that future investment decisions are firmly anchored in Ghana's country realities. 🌟 Leadership in Action: The meeting kicked off with inspiring opening remarks from Dr. Fred Nana Poku (Technical Director, Ghana AIDS Commission), who commended the champions' unwavering commitment to improving prevention programming. This high energy carried through the entire two-day session, concluding with a powerful closing address from the Director General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Dr. Kharmacelle Prosper Akanbong, who thanked partners for their active participation. 🤝 SSLN extends its deepest gratitude to our incredible partners for their continued leadership in strengthening Ghana's HIV prevention response: