Lighthouse contributes community perspectives on long-acting ARVs at regional Asia-Pacific consultation

Lighthouse Social Enterprise recently participated in regional consultation on access to long-acting antiretrovirals for HIV prevention and treatment in Asia-Pacific, convened by TREAT Asia/amfAR and partners.

The consultation brought together community representatives, technical experts, civil society organizations, programme implementers, and regional stakeholders to discuss how long-acting ARV products can be introduced in ways that are effective, equitable, affordable, and responsive to the needs of communities most affected by HIV.

During the consultation, Lighthouse shared reflections informed by findings from a recent national PrEP survey conducted by Lighthouse in Viet Nam. These findings provide important insights into community awareness, acceptability, preferences, and potential concerns related to PrEP and new HIV prevention options.

Lighthouse emphasized that long-acting injectable ARVs have the potential to transform HIV prevention and treatment by expanding choice, reducing pill burden, supporting privacy, and improving continuity of care. For some communities, especially those facing stigma, mobility barriers, confidentiality concerns, or challenges with daily medication, long-acting options may offer meaningful additional choices.

To support communities, healthcare providers, service providers, and other stakeholders with concise and accessible information on long-acting PrEP options, TREAT Asia/amfAR has also developed two practical two-page “snapshot” resources on Long-acting Cabotegravir (CAB-LA) and Lenacapavir (LEN-LA) for HIV prevention. These resources are particularly useful as Viet Nam and the wider region prepare for the introduction, piloting, and scale-up of long-acting ARV products.

Learn more here:

• Long-acting Cabotegravir: https://www.amfar.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/TA_Snapshots_CAB-LA_112125-v2.pdf
• Lenacapavir: https://www.amfar.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/TA_Snapshots_LEN-LA_011426.pdf

However, Lighthouse also highlighted that biomedical innovation alone does not guarantee impact. Long-acting ARVs will only be effective if communities are adequately informed, meaningfully engaged, and able to access services that are affordable, convenient, confidential, and free from stigma and discrimination.

This means that any future introduction of long-acting ARVs in Viet Nam should be accompanied by strong community education, demand creation, provider readiness, clear service delivery pathways, and mechanisms to ensure that services are not only available, but also accessible and acceptable to those who need them most.

Viet Nam is currently exploring pathways toward the piloting and introduction of long-acting ARV products for HIV prevention and treatment. Lighthouse welcomes this important progress and remains committed to working with communities, health providers, policymakers, and partners to ensure that community voices are central to the design, implementation, and monitoring of future services.

As new HIV prevention and treatment technologies continue to emerge, Lighthouse will continue advocating for access that is community-informed, rights-based, affordable, and equitable.

Follow Lighthouse for more updates on long-acting ARVs, PrEP, HIV prevention, treatment innovation, and community-led access in Viet Nam.