Increasing Awareness and Access to Injectable PrEP for Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Uganda

By Nawanyaga Gloria, AVAC Advocacy Navigator

HIV remains a critical public health issue, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, where adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) face a disproportionately high risk of infection.

In Uganda, approximately 500 AGYW contract HIV each week. Despite the availability of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), adherence challenges often limit its effectiveness. However, injectable PrEP, such as Cabotegravir (CAB-LA), offers a groundbreaking alternative, providing sustained protection and addressing adherence barriers.

As an AVAC Advocacy Navigator, my Community Advocacy Project focuses on reducing new HIV infections among AGYW in Uganda by promoting awareness and access to injectable PrEP.Through strategic stakeholder engagement, targeted sensitization efforts, and extensive media outreach, we aim to empower AGYW with knowledge and options for effective HIV prevention.

Engaging Stakeholders for a United Front

Our advocacy journey began with partnership meetings involving over 15 key stakeholders, including ICWEA, ACTS101, and Uganda’s Ministry of Health. These collaborations emphasized the need for grassroots, evidence-based advocacy and holding decision-makers accountable for supporting PrEP rollouts.

Key outcomes from these engagements include:

1. Increasing domestic financing for HIV prevention campaigns.

2. Training healthcare providers through continuous medical education.

3. Amplifying awareness using social and mass media platforms.

4. Advocating for equitable access to all HIV prevention tools.

5. Mobilizing cultural and religious leaders to champion HIV prevention.

Sensitizing Adolescent Girls and Young Women

To create demand and trust in injectable PrEP, we conducted sensitization meetings with AGYW at Naguru Health Center and two school outreaches in Kampala. The sessions reached over 1,500 young people, providing them with a choice-based approach to HIV prevention and addressing common misconceptions.

Empowering Healthcare Providers

Healthcare providers play a pivotal role in HIV prevention. We held a sensitization meeting with 10 healthcare workers at Naguru Health Center, enhancing their capacity to offer guidance on PrEP options, including the benefits of CAB-LA.

Leveraging Media for Wider Reach

Recognizing the power of media, we launched campaigns across multiple platforms:

• TV Talk Show: Aired on Spark TV, reaching over 1 million viewers.

• Radio Talk Show: Hosted on Next Radio, engaging approximately 50,000 listeners.

• X (formerly Twitter) Space: Engaged over 1,000 young people in an interactive discussion.

These efforts have significantly increased awareness, with communities now demanding more access to injectable PrEP services.

Challenges and Future Directions

Despite progress, barriers like cost and misconceptions persist. Advocacy for reduced costs and increased private-sector financing remains critical. We are also pushing for continuous tracking of new HIV prevention tools and the involvement of advocacy champions to sustain momentum.

A Brighter Future

By promoting injectable PrEP and other HIV prevention tools, we can drastically reduce new infections among AGYW and secure better public health outcomes for Uganda. With sustained advocacy, stakeholder collaboration, and community engagement, a generation free of HIV is within reach.