Building PrEP Capacity for Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women in Kebbi State
From 23rd to 26th June, 2025, healthcare professionals and key stakeholders from across Kebbi State gathered at Azbir Hotel, Birnin Kebbi, for a 4-day capacity-building workshop on Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Organized under the HSCL ACE 3 Project, the training brought together 29 participants, including PrEP focal persons, Ministry of Health representatives, national clinical mentors, ART nurses, ANC focal persons, mentor mothers, community cluster leads, and HIV testers.
The training aimed to strengthen the integration of PrEP into Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) services, equipping healthcare workers with the skills to deliver safe, effective, and client-centered HIV prevention for mothers and infants.
Key highlights of the training included updates on global and national HIV trends, with a focus on maternal health. There was also a session on PrEP & PEP Fundamentals, where issues around risk assessment, eligibility criteria, and clinical protocols for pregnant and breastfeeding women were discussed. Other activities were Client-Centered Counselling, including role-play sessions to strengthen communication, address stigma, and support adherence. There was also a session on Data and Monitoring to explain the use of PrEP-specific M&E tools for accurate reporting and program improvement. And then there were discussions on community engagement strategies to promote awareness, reduce stigma, and encourage voluntary uptake.
Participants explored real-world case studies, discussed ethical and legal considerations, and learned tailored counselling techniques to support informed decision-making during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Voices from the Training
National Clinical Mentor, Dr. Tuko Moses, underscored the importance of integrating HIV prevention into routine maternal care.
PrEP is a vital tool in protecting mothers and their infants. Building the skills of healthcare workers is key to creating demand and ensuring safe, effective service delivery across Kebbi State.
The workshop reinforced the critical role of culturally sensitive, data-driven, and community-supported approaches in achieving epidemic control. With strengthened capacity, Kebbi’s healthcare teams are better prepared to protect mothers and babies from HIV one informed decision at a time.