Welcome to this course on Lenacapavir PrEP: Online Training Course.

This course is designed for Medical Officers, NIMART/PrEP trained Primary Care Nurse Specialists (Clinical Nurse Practitioners) and NIMART/PrEP trained Professional Nurses working in WC Primary Health Care facilities.

This course is a theoretical refresher course for the RPN/PCNS with a short competency layer for the RPN.

This injectable training is a mandatory requirement for all authorised prescribers until the current PrEP and NIMART courses have been amended to include Lenacapavir. 

The NIMART/PrEP trained PCNS/RPN after completion of this course does not need additional authorisation for Lenacapavir and is deemed authorised and trained after completion of this course.

About the course

  • Course Design: Self-directed online component and supervised consultation logbook.

  • Duration: It will take 2 - 3 hours to complete the online component.

  • Eligibility for this course:
    This course is designed for Medical Officers, NIMART/PrEP trained Primary Care Nurse Specialists (Clinical Nurse Practitioners) and NIMART/PrEP trained Professional Nurses working in WC Primary Health Care facilities.

  • Accreditation: This course is accredited for:
    • HPCSA: 2 Clinical CPD points (Level 1)

  • Certification: Participants need at least 75% for the final quiz.

  • Published: June 2026

Course curriculum

The following topics are covered in this course:

Theme 1: Introduction to HIV prevention

  • Principles of combination prevention
  • How lenacapavir is integrated into HIV prevention
  • Difference between ARV-based interventions:
    • Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)
    • Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)
    • Antiretroviral Treatment (ART)


Theme 2: Introduction to Lenacapavir

  • Regulatory status of lenacapavir in South Africa
  • National Implementation Guidelines for the twice-yearly lenacapavir injectable
  • Clinical evidence supporting the efficacy and safety of lenacapavir in HIV prevention
  • What lenacapavir is, how it works and the advantages and disadvantages of lenacapavir as a PrEP method


Theme 3: Screening and initiation

  • Algorithm which should be followed when offering lenacapavir
  • Correct steps in lenacapavir initiation, from HIV testing, counselling, establishing eligibility, and initiation


Theme 4: Counselling 

  • Skills for counsellors
  • Skills for clinicians


Theme 5: Follow-up and management

  • Lenacapavir injection schedule and what should be done at follow-up visits
  • Guidance on missed doses and restarting lenacapavir or switching to alternative prevention methods
  • Guidance on discontinuing lenacapavir, and how to counsel clients on the “tail period”, and alternative HIV prevention methods
  • How to facilitate switching between PrEP methods, ensuring informed decision-making and adherence to clinical guidelines.
  • Seroconversion and drug resistance risks, and proper linkage to ART and follow-up care


Theme 6: Side effects and drug interactions

  • How to identify and manage common side effects of lenacapavir
  • How to recognise and respond to adverse drug reactions
  • Drug interactions between lenacapavir and other medications
  • Guidance on discontinuation or adjustment of lenacapavir in cases of drug interactions
  • How to report drug interactions using the appropriate channels and forms


Theme 7: Special considerations

  • Pregnancy and breastfeeding
  • Adolescents ( >35kg)
  • Older adults ( >50 yrs)
  • Renal impairment
  • Liver impairment
  • Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)
  • People who use or inject drugs


Western Cape Government Department of Health and Wellness
People Development Centre

Acknowledgements:

  • National Department of Health
  • Knowledge Translation Foundation