As we mark Youth Month in South Africa, we honour the contributions of young professionals who are not only shaping the future but actively rewriting it. This year, the celebration carries deeper meaning: the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Lenacapavir, the world’s first and only twice-yearly injectable HIV prevention option, with South African science and participation at its core.
At the heart of this breakthrough are young researchers from The Aurum Institute who played a key role in advancing the PURPOSE 1 and PURPOSE 2 clinical trials across multiple sites, including Klerksdorp, Rustenburg, Pretoria and Tembisa. Their work helped deliver the evidence behind a product that has now shown 100% efficacy in preventing HIV among cisgender women.
“The work I do matters” – Amukelani Nyathi, Research Assistant, Rustenburg CRS
“Being a young woman working in a study that showed 100% efficacy in preventing HIV, and seeing it now approved by the FDA, gives me a sense of pride and purpose.”
As a Research Assistant and Study Coordinator for PURPOSE 1, Amukelani Nyathi played a central role in recruiting adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) into the trial. Her work ensured not only informed consent and participant retention, but also helped capture deep, qualitative insights on how young women experience HIV prevention options.
“I got to listen to real stories of fear, hope, confusion and courage. This approval isn’t just about an injection, it’s about restoring our dignity, honouring our right to choose, and giving AGYW the flexibility to take control of their health without judgment or fear.”
“I am humbled to have participated in history” – Akhona Centane, Research Assistant, Klerksdorp CRS
“This is a huge breakthrough – not just for AGYW but for young men and gender-diverse communities too. We are often overlooked, yet we’re part of the change.”
Akhona Centane transitioned from being a Community Outreach Worker to a Research Assistant on PURPOSE 1, where he helped identify high-risk communities, administered informed consent, and supported participant retention.
“What this FDA approval means is that communities will start to believe more in research. It builds trust and shows that science, when rooted in people’s real lives, can transform futures. I hope this product becomes affordable to all classes – because this is how we’ll truly fight HIV.”
A Future Built by Youth, for Youth
This milestone speaks volumes during Youth Month. It shows what is possible when young people are empowered, when their work is respected, and when their voices shape global health outcomes.
For Amukelani, Akhona, and the broader Aurum team, this is more than a professional achievement. It’s a generational one.
“We did this with our communities, for our communities,” says Amukelani. “And the impact will last for generations to come.”
Related Links:
FDA Announcement – Gilead Newsroom
More on the PURPOSE Studies
