This month ICAP and the Columbia Center for New Media Teaching and Learning (CCNMTL) launched the ICAP Nursing E-learning platform to support online learning for nurses and midwives, and to enhance classroom learning at nursing education institutions. The first material available is a self-paced course for nursing students attending schools throughout Africa.

This flagship course puts into context the World Health Organization’s (WHO) new recommendations on preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT). WHO now recommends initiating lifelong antiretroviral treatment (ART) for pregnant and breastfeeding women who test positive for HIV. This new recommendation is called Option B+. The course provides case studies, interactive activities, and an exam that cover the most efficient and effective protocols surrounding the recommendation including how to counsel, antiretroviral (ARV) dosing for infants, supporting ART adherence for adults, and monitoring retention in care.

Having more nurses and midwives entering the workforce with training in Option B+ will accelerate and improve global efforts to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Institutions working with ICAP can create groups of students within the e-learning system and monitor their progress as a component of coursework for a class. Other interested students and nurses from non-affiliated countries can use the system independently to work through the material. Requests from interested health workers outside Africa, from Brazil to Myanmar, are already coming in, showing the impact this course may have on eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV worldwide.

ICAP is based at Columbia University and is a global leader in HIV/AIDS and health systems strengthening. Capacity building for nursing and midwifery is an essential part of ICAP’s mission to ensure the health of families and communities around the world. CCNMTL is proud to be a partner with ICAP in offering this groundbreaking course, and supporting the mission to reduce HIV infection globally.

About CCNMTL
Columbia University’s Center for New Media Teaching and Learning (CCNMTL) builds education experiences for the University’s faculty, staff, and students on campus and online across all of Columbia’s colleges, schools, and departments. From our earliest days in 1999, CCNMTL has been dedicated to developing and producing quality new media and educational technology to enhance university teaching and learning. Our productions, publications, and events aim to provide thought leadership and practical support — and promote innovation in pedagogy and curriculum development — for teachers and education everywhere. CCNMTL is part of the Columbia University Libraries/Information Services.