DVR AN OPTION FOR WOMEN 

By Daily News Reporter 

For years, the fight against HIV for many women and girls in Zambia has not only been about access to health services, but about power—power to choose, to negotiate, and to protect themselves.

At the University Teaching Hospital, that dynamic began to shift with the launch of the Dapivirine Vaginal Ring (DVR), a discreet, long-acting HIV prevention method designed specifically for women.

The monthly ring, introduced by the Ministry of Health, represents more than just another medical innovation. For many, it signals a turning point in how HIV prevention is approached—placing control directly into the hands of women.

Ministry of Health Minister Dr. Alex Katakwe said "This is not just about a product—it is about people,”  during the launch. “It is about the young woman who dreams of a future free of HIV, and about empowering communities with knowledge, choice, and dignity.”

Zambia’s HIV response has made measurable gains over the past decade. New infections have dropped significantly, and more people than ever are accessing life-saving treatment.

Young people aged 15 to 24 account for a large share of new infections, with adolescent girls and young women facing a risk more than three times higher than their male counterparts. For many, prevention is shaped not just by awareness, but by social realities—limited negotiating power in relationships, economic vulnerability, and stigma.

Unlike condoms or daily pills, the ring is woman-controlled and can be used discreetly. Once inserted, it provides protection for up to a month—without the need for daily action or partner negotiation.

The Dapivirine Vaginal Ring is part of a broader shift toward diversified HIV prevention—one that recognizes that no single method works for everyone.

For Zambia, this is not the first step in that direction. Oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and long-acting injectable options have already been introduced. But the DVR fills a critical gap: it is specifically designed with women’s realities in mind.

“Prevention is not a one-size-fits-all service,” Dr. Katakwe emphasized. “Every individual deserves access to options that align with their needs and life circumstances.”

The ring’s introduction also reflects years of research and community engagement. Women across Africa participated in clinical trials that helped bring the product to approval—often driven by the hope of finding a method they could control themselves.

The initial rollout will begin at three facilities in Lusaka, with plans to expand gradually. But experts say availability alone will not guarantee success.

In many communities, misconceptions about new health products can spread quickly. Without clear information and community engagement, even the most promising tools can go underused.

That is why the Ministry of Health says it will focus not only on supply, but also on education—working with healthcare providers, civil society, and community leaders to ensure women understand and feel confident using the ring.

It represents a shift toward recognizing HIV prevention as not just a biomedical issue, but a social and gender issue—one that requires solutions rooted in real-life experiences.

For a young woman who cannot insist on condom use, the ring offers privacy.

For one balancing school, work, or family pressures, it offers convenience.

For many, it offers something that has often been missing: autonomy.

Zambia’s ambition to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 remains within reach—but only if prevention efforts continue to evolve.

The introduction of the Dapivirine Vaginal Ring is one such evolution: a blend of science, policy, and lived experience.

“The Dapivirine Vaginal Ring is more than a scientific advancement,” Dr. Katakwe said. “It is a testament to what we can achieve when innovation meets political will and community action.”

As the rollout begins, the measure of success will not lie in policy documents or launch events, but in the lives of women and girls across the country—those who will now have one more way to protect their future. 

And speaking at the same launch Ascend Future Foundations Executive Director Dr. Chilufya Kasanda add that this option gives women autonomy over their health while addressing social and structural barriers.

( Chilufya Kasanda Ascend Future Foundations)

 And Planned Parenthood Association of Zambia ( PPAZ) Representative Lester Phiri also added that DVR is a valuable addition to the country Innovation in HIV prevention.