OVERVIEW

Healthcare systems are experiencing unprecedented challenges in delivering care. In context of existing and emerging infectious disease prevention/management including COVID-19. The experiences of HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic and Ebola outbreaks have demonstrated the persistence of inadequate infection prevention and control (IPC) practices and training, understaffing, and inadequate facilities. Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) are recognized as a major burden for patients, community and healthcare management. Further, we have a growing risk of the spread of infectious diseases and an increasing resistance to antibiotics. Infection Prevention and control specialists both private and public units at primary secondary and tertiary care levels are lacking in most low income settings. Training of healthcare professionals is important, to help them know about the evolving best practices in the infection prevention and control management of novel and emerging infectious diseases.

The Certificate in Infection Prevention and Control is an online 2 month part-time program aimed at infection control professionals who wish to gain knowledge, skills and expertise in IPC, delivered by leading professionals.

This programme is guided by the core competencies for infection prevention and control professionals, Antimicrobial Resistance Infection Control Competency Framework for IPC Practitioners, . This programme provides a foundation for the clinical expertise needed by infection prevention and control professionals to guide our practice, educate, monitor standards, challenge, lead and progress preventative strategies. This course is useful for persons who wish to become IPC professionals and work in this field.

The certificate in infection control and prevention is co-designed building on our projects on:
1. Expanding use of video technology to improve midlevel health care providers infection control management in rural/urban health care setting in Uganda” we developed 25 videos and accompanying script for education communication and research (https://luziibangi.org/)
2. Re-enforcing COVID-19 risk communication in Uganda
3. Situation analysis of infection prevention and control in Uganda 2023 as lead consultant for MOH, with support from the following partners CHAI, WHO and Seed Global.


Learning outcomes 

This program will provide you with the skills and knowledge to critically:
• Evaluate infection prevention/control programme management and leadership
• Discuss the IPC core components, and built environment in health care facilities
• Demonstrate understanding and application of standard precautions and Transmission-based precautions in infection prevention and control
• Discuss the principles preventing the spread of infection within the hospital and community.
• Discuss the principles of microbiology in the prevention and control of infection.
• Review and appraise infection prevention/control guidelines based on National and International standards.
• Evaluate administration and management systems for infection prevention/control, including strategic planning for the infection prevention and control service.
• Evaluate the use of information technology in the development and updating of infection prevention/control guidelines and procedures.
• Discuss the methods of investigating and controlling an outbreak of infection.
• Discuss the use of Health care-associated infection surveillance methods in IPC
• Discuss surveillance and the investigation of relevant infections.
• Discuss Antimicrobial resistance prevention
• Discuss decontamination and reprocessing of medical devices and equipment
• Discuss Catheter-associated bloodstream and urinary tract infection prevention
• Describe surgical site and health care-associated pneumonia infection prevention
• Health care-associated outbreak prevention and management
• Infection prevention and control education and training
• Discuss quality and patient safety, and occupational health

Course Structure

This is a 8 weeks part time day short course
Participants can choose either online or onsite options

ONLINE OPTION: 10th July -31st August 2023
• Participants will study at the E-learning platform on: https://luziibangi-lihs.ac.ug/ for the first 3 weeks, Monday-Friday 3pm to 6pm
• 4 weeks at appropriate workplace/field site
• 1 week presentation of the project/field work -online (3pm to 6pm), assessments and certificate award


ON SITE: 31st July to 22nd September 2023
Participants will study for 3 weeks (full-time), at Luziibangi International Health School (LIHS)
• 4 weeks at appropriate workplace/field site
•1 week onsite at LIHS for presentation of project/field work assessments, and certificate award

Entry requirements

To be eligible for the program you must:
• Be a registered nurse or midwife, or clinical officer, medical officer or other professional bodies in your country of practice.
• All applicants must hold a diploma or a Bachelor degree or an equivalent.
• Applicants must be proficiency in English language.
Please contact us for further information on this route.

TARGET PARTICIPANTS

• The main target in charge of (or participating in) IPC programs at the national, sub-national or facility level, such as IPC and AMR focal points, IPC officers, link persons and diverse professionals participating in IPC programme activities. Critical target audiences are also those in charge of IPC postgraduate education and training at the national, sub-national and facility levels, and those in charge of human resources for health care.

• In addition, policy-makers, senior managers, and professionals with the mandate of (or involved in) developing or strengthening IPC programs at the national and facility level may be interested in this course

• Other stakeholders, such as those responsible for training and education programs of HWs involved in direct or indirect patient care, or responsible for health care quality, patient safety, public health, infectious disease control and surveillance, WASH, occupational health, antimicrobial stewardship programs, clinical microbiology and environmental health interventions, including other professional bodies where IPC knowledge can be incorporated into their programs.

Fees and funding

Ugandan participants: 740,000 Ugx
International Participants: 500$

Please note
• There is a non-refundable online application fee of an equivalent of $20.
• Fees can be paid by bank transfer. Full details on fee payment will be emailed to you shortly before the commencement of your programme.
• You can pay your fees in two equal instalments – one payment of 50% is due before you commence the programme, while the remaining payment is due at the midway point of the programme.
• Fees exclude accommodation, decent accommodation is available on site at 20$ or and equivalent in Uganda shillings per day
• Fees are subject to review annually.
View our fees policy