PAHO Launches New Course on Combined HIV Prevention, Including PrEP

Washington, D.C., February 25, 2026 (PAHO) – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has launched a new online course, “Combined HIV Prevention with Emphasis on Oral and Long-Acting Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP),” available through the PAHO Virtual Campus for Public Health. The course is designed to enhance the technical skills of healthcare professionals involved in HIV prevention and treatment across the Americas.

Strengthening HIV Response Capabilities

The self-paced, free course is open to all interested participants without enrollment limits or deadlines. Registration requires creating an account on the PAHO Virtual Campus platform. Participants can complete the approximately 11-hour course at their own speed and will receive an official PAHO certificate upon successful completion of the modules, exercises and a final exam.

Who Will Benefit from the Course?

The program targets a broad range of health workers, including physicians, nurses, community health workers, students, and national HIV program teams. It focuses on equipping these professionals with the knowledge and skills to serve populations at higher risk of HIV infection.

The Importance of PrEP in HIV Prevention

“PrEP is a highly effective tool for reducing new infections, and its uptake is key to making progress toward the elimination of HIV/AIDS as a public health problem,” said Dr. Hortencia Peralta, PAHO Regional Advisor on HIV and STI Prevention. The course translates the latest evidence into practical tools for healthcare and community teams to deliver quality services, including early diagnosis, timely linkage to antiretroviral treatment, and prevention of advanced HIV disease.

HIV Statistics in the Americas

An estimated 4.2 million people were living with HIV in the Americas in 2024, and approximately 38,000 lives are lost each year due to AIDS-related causes. PAHO projections indicate that expanding the combined use of oral and long-lasting PrEP could reduce new infections by more than 70% over the next four years. Combining this strategy with expanded antiretroviral treatment could lead to a decline of over 90% in new infections in Latin America and the Caribbean by 2030.

Course Content and Objectives

Structured around nine thematic modules and a concluding module, the course utilizes technical content, audiovisual materials, case studies, and self-assessment exercises. Upon completion, health workers will be able to:

• Understand the combination prevention approach.
• Identify strategies to expand HIV testing and identify individuals eligible for PrEP or post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).
• Safely administer and monitor both oral and injectable PrEP formulations, including long-acting injectable cabotegravir administered every six months.
• Utilize programmatic indicators to track progress.
• Promote early diagnosis and prevention of advanced HIV disease.

PAHO’s Commitment to Disease Elimination

PAHO aims to eliminate HIV/AIDS as one of more than 30 communicable diseases and related conditions by 2030 as part of its Disease Elimination Initiative. This course represents a significant step towards achieving that goal by strengthening the capacity of healthcare professionals to implement effective prevention and treatment strategies.

Further Resources

For more information on PrEP, PEP, and key populations, visit the PAHO/WHO page on PrEP, PEP, and Key Populations. Additional resources and documents on PrEP are available at PAHO’s PrEP Documents page. Data on PrEP, HIV diagnosis, and treatment in the region can be found on the PAHO HIV Situation in the Americas portal.