Pratik Pawar

Pratik Pawar, a journalist and Future Perfect fellow at Vox, sheds light on the rollout of lenacapavir, a groundbreaking HIV prevention drug in the U.S., but notably absent in South Africa. He discusses the troubling background of PEPFAR cuts, the stigma surrounding HIV, and how political decisions shape global health priorities. With trial results showing zero infections, the decision to exclude South Africa raises eyebrows. Pawar highlights the barriers faced by vulnerable communities and critiques the focus on official channels over NGOs in drug distribution.