Our Work
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) interferes with the body’s ability to fight diseases and infections, and leads to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS); which is when the immune system is so compromised that it is unable to fight off most infections and diseases.
In 2014, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported 1.2 million deaths caused by HIV related causes and 36.9 million HIV-positive people. Globally the Sub-Saharan African region has the highest population of HIV-positive people.
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The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals aim to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030. This can be achieved by:
- The elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV
- Increased availability in educational programmes and content regarding:
- HIV/AIDS symptoms in men
- HIV/AIDS symptoms in women
- Innovative learning approaches regarding the various ways HIV/AIDS is transmitted
- Improving education on clear and accurate definition on HIV/AIDS
- HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT)
- Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC)
- Preventing medical transmission of HIV
- Providing access to Antiretroviral Therapy, treatment for HIV/AIDS related infections and palliative care
- Integrating HIV/AIDS services with services for TB, cervical cancer, malaria in pregnancy, family planning and maternal and child health services
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Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision [VMMC]
The World Health Organization (WHO), in conjunction with UNAIDS, recommended Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) as an HIV prevention strategy. This is based on scientific evidence that circumcision reduces the risk of contracting HIV and STIs, and protects women from cervical cancer. Thus, JPS Africa NPC, in conjunction with the NDoH, incorporated Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) into their HIV/AIDS prevention strategies and programmes.
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These strategies and programmes aim to:
- Ensure the provision of high-quality, high volume integrated adult circumcision (VMMC) services
- Collaborate with traditional circumcising communities and their leaders to offer innovative approaches on the benefits of male circumcision as well as the benefits of VMMC as a component of traditional initiation rites
- Partner with companies to bring VMMC services to the workplace
- Collaborate with other HIV partners in the districts to ensure the continuum of care and promote and refer clients for VMMC.
Thus far, JPS Africa NPC has a total of 23 sites that support VMMC in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, and one Mobile VMMC clinic. JPS Africa NPC also trains Health Promotion Officers on circumcision benefits and VMMC as a HIV prevention method, as well as other benefits of VMMC, adult circumcision and how to effectively promote VMMC among South African men. This training is supported through the use of the ModCal® Training Skills programme, which blends technology supported learning with more traditional group-based training.
During the PEPFAR quarterly review of all CDC supported VMMC partners in South Africa, JPS Africa NPC was the only implementing partner with a net positive trend between October and November in 2013. The programme performed 47,047 VMMC procedures between October 2011 and April 2015.
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Family Planning & Reproductive Health
Dr. Motsoaledi, Minister of Health, said “In 2 years we would like to see a reduction in teenage pregnancy, unwanted pregnancies and in abortions” at the launch of the National Family Planning Campaign in South Africa in April 2014.
The JPS Africa NPC family planning project has played a key role in supporting the launch of the National Family Planning Campaign. This year-long campaign, led by the National Department of Health (NDoH), aims to reduce the high number of maternal deaths in the country by promoting family planning, addressing teenage pregnancy and overall women’s health.
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Through this project, JPS Africa NPC is helping women to better plan and prepare for their futures. By educating women on the female reproductive system and their reproductive options, women have a choice in their pregnancy and are also receiving advice on healthy and safe sexual intercourse. There are many contraceptive options, however JPS Africa NPC has been trained and, in turn, is training others, on how to insert and remove Sub-Dermal Contraceptive Implants (Implanon™ or Jadelle). The implants are supplied by Merck, Sharp and Dohme, and Bayer. Patients prefer the implants for contraception as they do not require the patient to return to the clinic. Contraceptive injections require the patient to return a family planning or women’s health clinic every 3 months, while contraceptive pills only last 1 month. The implant enables women to lead normal lives without the stress of getting to a clinic or finding funding for the pills or injections; if they want to conceive, they can come in and have the implant removed.
JPS Africa NPC has been training nurses on the proper procedure to insert the implants. These nurses can then go on to train others on the implant and strategic family planning. The training includes competency based clinical training skills which includes a variety of training methodology, for example; classroom simulations, role playing and group discussions. The nurses are also trained in using Infection Prevention and Control measures as well as the Balance Counselling Plus Strategy, which is a client focused counselling strategy that embraces a holistic approach and integrates relevant women’s health issues. The Balance Counselling Plus Strategy helped to reduce the rate of early implant removals and increased use of the implants.
The family planning project reached a total of 2,359 clients in 2014 across Mpumalanga and Northern Cape supporting women’s health and family planning nationwide.
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MDR TB, Programming & Research
Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) Tuberculosis (TB) is a severe form of TB, where the bacteria are resistant to multiple antibiotic drugs which makes it difficult, but not impossible, to treat. It is estimated the 5% of Tuberculosis (TB) cases are MDR. JPS Africa supports the NDoH to improve access for MDR-TB patients by decentralizing treatment initiation across South Africa.
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The goal is to establish sites of excellence and nurse-led Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) initiation and management. As there is a skill and doctor shortage in South Africa, nurses are being called upon to treat MDR-TB. The NDoH identified the need to provide training and contracted JPS Africa to provide training for nurses so that they are better equipped to treat and care for MDR-TB patients. The training is supported with the use of the Jhpiego-developed Training Information Monitoring Systems (TIMS©).
JPS Africa NPC currently provides training for:
- Nurse Initiated MDR-TB treatment
- MDR-TB management for Health Care Workers
- Otoxicity (measurement for hearing changes in patients)
- Community Caregivers or home based care
- EDR (a web based tool for the collection of drug resistant TB data)
This programme also allows data to be gathered about the patients, symptoms of Tuberculosis and their treatment through the use of an mHealth solution called emocha©. The mHealth solution includes a training application for nurses with a multimedia educational library. emocha© is a patient tracer, which is used to record patient data from entry point into the health system, to admission to discharge.
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Infection Prevention & Control
Infection prevention and control forms part of every programme that JPS Africa NPC offers. By integrating infection control policy and protection, JPS Africa NPC can reduce the spread of hospital acquired infection, diseases, promote effective waste management, reduce environmental pollution and reduce the perceived and actual risk of infection for health care providers.
With increased strategic and effective implementation of infection control policy, South Arica and JPS Africa NPC can boast a steady movement toward the decline of hospital acquired infection and an increase in infection control.
Maternal, Newborn & Child Health
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are approximately 800 fatalities daily due to pregnancy and childbirth related causes of which 99% of these occur in developing countries. With such a high maternal mortality rate, approximately three quarters of all newborn deaths occur in the first week of life. In developing countries, approximately 50% of all mothers and newborns are not currently receiving skilled maternal and newborn healthcare during and after birth. The World Health Organization states that maternal and newborn deaths are preventable with skilled care during and after pregnancy and childbirth.
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Maternal and newborn skilled care includes:
- Antenatal care, including that for malaria in pregnancy and mother-to-child transmission of HIV
- Obstetric and newborn care, including basic care and emergency care. Examples of this type of healthcare includes, but is not limited to, pregnancy related conditions such as pre-eclampsia, postpartum hemorrhage and newborn asphyxia
- Family planning
- Post-abortion care services
- Infection prevention practices
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Training
Description of Trainings Offered by JPS Africa (Click each item for more detail)
- 3-Day VMMC Surgical Training
- 5-Day VMMC Surgical Training
- 2-Day VMMC Recording & Reporting Training
- 2-Day VMMC Continuous Quality Assurance Training
- 2-Day Basic Life Support and VMMC Emergencies Training
- 2-Day VMMC Demand Generation Training
- 1-Day Traditional Male Circumcision & Wound Care Training
- 2-Day HIV Testing Services Training
- 1-Day VMMC Adverse Event Training
- 5-Day NIMART training
- 5-Day PMTCT training
- 1 & 5 Day TB Basics Training
- 2 Hour online IPC for COVID-19 training
- 1-Day Health Promotion Training
- 3-Day VMMC for Enrolled Nurses Training
- Bespoke Training
Cervical Cancer Prevention & Treatment
Cervical cancer is caused by two types of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Globally, it is the fourth most frequent cancer in women. 85% of cervical cancer deaths occur in less developed countries, where it is the second most common cancer. Sufficient early symptom screening and treatment can prevent cervical cancer deaths, however there is limited access to effective screening methods in developing countries. Cervical cancer screening methods include papsmears, visual inspections with acetic acid (vinegar) and cryotherapy. JPS Africa NPC implemented the process of improving access to early screening to help reduce cervical cancer deaths.
With increased in accessible quality education and content, global communities are able to develop their knowledge about the various HPV virus’ and cervical cancer systems.
Good clinical practice, ethics and research training
Good Clinical Practice (GCP) training and certification is a compulsory requirement by Research Ethics Committees and the Medicines Control Council (MCC) for all staff working on a clinical trial, before commencing clinical research, and additionally for all other staff involved in research studies.
JPS Africa provides both Basic GCP and Refresher Training Courses for investigative sites, as well as private individuals acknowledged by Ethics Committees and Medicines Control Council in South Africa.
After successful completion of good clinical practice training, candidates will receive a Certificate of Attendance which is valid for three years, after which the GCP Refresher/Update Course should be attended. Participants receive 12 CPD points for completion of the Good Clinical Practice Course (GCP), and 6 points for completion of the Ethics Course.
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GOOD CLINICAL PRACTICE:
Basic Course: This is a full two-day course covering the processes and requirements of clinical trials from start to finish, which include ICH and SA GCP exercises. The course attendee will also be provided with an easy-reference Good Clinical Practice booklet. To receive GCP certification, there is a written ‘open book test’ at the end of the course, which must be completed before the certificate is issued.
Refresher Course: This course runs over half a day or evening, and is required by staff who have previously attended the GCP Basic Course, in order to renew their certificate.
ETHICS COURSES:
Research Ethics: Human Subjects Protection Certification is a requirement by Ethics Committees in South Africa for all staff active in research involving human participants. This course comprises the fundamental ICH principles for ethical conduct in research. The course is half a day and participants receive 6 CPD points upon completion.
Public Health Practice Ethics: This course covers ethical principles as well as ethical practice standards for healthcare practitioners. The course draws on context relevant practice standards and explores ethical dilemmas and pathways to resolution of these. The course is half a day and participants receive 6 CPD points upon completion.
Please kindly contact Jacqueline Piennar at Jacqueline.piennar@jhpiego.co.za for more information or to book participants for courses.
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Social Ethics and Responsibility
JPS Africa NPC planting a tree to save the environment
Planting trees is one of the most basic of environmental acts. It embraces the beauty of nature, helps clean the environment from the moment of planting forward, and sets one’s mind on the well-being of future generations.
The main purpose of planting trees is to save the environment. The ozone layer is becoming thinner which contributes to global warming. One of the main gases are carbon di-oxide, which traps the heat of the sun and warms the earth’s temperature. Trees need carbon di-oxide so they reduce its presence but if there are no trees then the earth’s temperature will rise and cause a lot of damage, which we already experience as we witness the changes in the seasons and impact of global warming such as:
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- Increase in average temperatures and temperature extremes
- Extreme weather events
- Sea levels rising and ocean acidification
- Social effects
https://www.livescience.com/37057-global-warming-effects.html
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JPS Africa aims to contribute to the Office Park landscapes and helps create carbon sinks to help fight climate change. Tree planting is a great way to increase employees’ interest in their local and work environment and achieve environmental goals. An Orange Jasmine tree was planted on 20 March 2020.
We are striving to uplift the quality of both our living – and work environment through active planting, proper maintenance and preservation of trees together with other vegetation. Our target is to bring about noticeable improvements in urban greenery and to enhance existing greened areas at work.
Benefits of this trees include:
- Trees combat climate change
- Trees clean the air
- Trees provide oxygen
- Trees conserve energy
- Trees help prevent water pollution
- Trees cool the streets and the city
- Trees help prevent soil erosion
- Trees heal
- Trees reduce violence
- Trees mark the seasons
- Trees bring diverse groups of people together
https://www.treepeople.org/tree-benefits
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