Introduction

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is a prevention and risk reduction strategy to protect HIV negative individuals before they are exposed to the HIV virus. PrEP has been shown to reduce the risk of HIV infection through sexual contact for gay men and other men who have sex with men, bisexual men, transgender persons, and heterosexual men and women, as well as transmission among people who inject drugs. In South Africa, with its estimated 8.2 million individuals infected with HIV, it is imperative that we engage with the implementation of PrEP in broadening our preventative strategies and ensuring that we reach the UNAIDS 90-90-90 target.

This strategy is an essential building block in reaching the WHO Sustainable Millennium Goals towards elimination of HIV, adopted and endorsed by South Africa. The purpose of this short course is to enable healthcare professionals to:

• identify potential and eligible PrEP users
• safely initiate them on, or
• link them to other treatment/prevention programmes.

This initiative aims to raise awareness of HIV prevention in the target groups, thereby promoting patient centredness. It will simultaneously contribute to changing stigmatisation within accessing healthcare amongst marginalised and at-risk groups.

Who Should Enroll

• Medical Practitioners
• Nurses (Professional/Registered)
• Clinical Associates

Course Design

This short course is offered as an online short course. The content is comprehensive and offers interactive case studies and videos.

Learning Outcomes

After completion of this learning experience, participants should be able to:

1. Dissect the role of PrEP and its goals and targets.
2. Identify at-risk patients who would benefit from PrEP.
3. Administer PrEP safely within the primary care context.
4. Implement related strategies to minimise HIV infection.
5. Interview patients on the use of PrEP, with emphasis on adherence, its risk profile, and benefits.

Course Content

Module 1: HIV overview
Module 2: PrEP Basics
Module 3: Clinical application
Module 4: PrEP target group
Module 5: Counselling and adherence
Module 6: Case studies

Time

Participants will have 3 months from the date of enrolment to complete the short course. The duration of the course content should take approximately 24 hours to complete.

Certification

To qualify for a certificate of completion students should complete all online learning activities and obtain a cumulative average of 70%.

Accreditation

Accredited according to the HPCSA’s Medical and Dental Board Guidelines for Health Care Professionals for 13 Clinical and 2 Ethical CEU’s on Level 2.

Course Fee

R1 500 Now R999.00 (Inclusive of all VAT and taxes where applicable.) This includes access to the online portal that houses the study material and assessment.

Enrolment Process

Contact

School of Health Sciences
Foundation for Professional Development
Email: healthscience@foundation.co.za
Website: www.foundation.co.za
Address: P.O. Box 75324, Lynnwood Ridge, 0040