WHC News Journal - May 2024

NEWS JOURNAL

May 2024 Edition

Dear Colleagues,

Welcome to the May 2024 edition of our Wits Health Consortium online news journal.

We are not even halfway through the year and have so many stories of success and celebration to share. In this edition we take the opportunity to congratulate Professor Wendy Stevens from Wits Innovation Hub for being honoured as a gold medallist recipient at the recent South African Medical Research Councils 10th scientific merit award ceremony. Included in this edition is some of the work that Professor Stevens and colleagues have been conducting,

WHC is pleased to have collaborated with the Wits Faculty of Health Science in developing and facilitating the “Wits Health and Research Management Programme” in response to the crisis of unemployed doctors in the country. The weeklong programme was run in Johannesburg in March this year and was aimed to provide Medical Doctors and Professional with a comprehensive “flavour” of health research as a career direction.  We would like to extend our thanks to all of our experts who assisted and supported this programme to make it a success.

Included in this edition is an article on the innovative project currently run by MRC/Wits Agincourt Research Unit, once again highlighting the impact of collaboration and partnership as we see how local traditional healers, community members and healthcare facility staff have worked together in the continued fight against HIV. Also included in this edition is an update on the CATALYST (Catalysing Access to New Prevention Products to Stop HIV) Study of which our Wits RHI colleagues are involved.

Lastly, but certainly not least, congratulations to Wits RHI on its 30th year of existence. Thank you for the three decades of helping improve peoples lives.

Alfred Farrell Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of WHC

1

10th SAMRC Scientific Merit Awards

Professor Wendy Stevens was honoured as a gold medal recipient at the recent South African Medical Research Council’s 10th scientific merit awards ceremony.

03

Introducing the dynamics of essential health and research management

The Faculty of Health Sciences at Wits in collaboration with Wits Health Consortium, recently ran a week-long programme in essential health and research management

05

South Africa the 1st to welcome CAB for PrEP

The CATALYST collaboration is instrumental in shaping guidelines and strategies aimed at enhancing access to a spectrum of prevention options.

Acknowledgements

The South African Medial Research Council (SAMRC) https://www.samrc.ac.za

Wits Diagnostic Innovation Hub (Wits DIH) https://www.wits.ac.za/innovation

Wits University Faculty of Health Sciences https://www.wits.ac.za/health

Wits Health Consortium https://www.witshealth.co.za

02 Accelerating Africa’s access to diagnostic technologies

The Wits Diagnostic Innovation Hub (DIH) continues to provide affordable and accessible innovative diagnostics to those who need it the most.

04 Traditional healers help diagnose HIV

Wits University’s MRC/Wits Agincourt Research Unit empowered traditional healers to conduct HIV testing, and to refer those positive for treatment.

We would like to thank the following for their contributions to this issue:

If you would like to share any information or news that may be considered for inclusion in future issues of our news journal or any suggestions on how we may improve this communication platform, please direct them to:

Bradley Aigner baigner@witshealth.co.za

MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt) https://www.wits.ac.za/agincourt

FHI 360 https://www.fhi360.0rg

10th SAMRC Scientific Merit Awards

Professor Wendy Stevens was honoured as a gold medal recipient at the recent South African Medical Council’s 10th scientific merit awards ceremony.

On 7 March 2024, the South African Medical Council held its 10th scientific merit awards to honour some of the best scientific research in South Africa especially in health sciences.

Through these prestigious awards, the SAMRC aims to acknowledge outstanding contributions to health research, recognise individuals who have demonstrated exceptional scientific acumen or made innovative strides in addressing public health challenges, potentially influencing policy and enhancing the well-being of the South African population.

The SAMRC President and CEO, Prof Glenda Gray said medical research remains fundamental for transformation, innovation and collaboration in advancing scientific discovery.

“Celebrating medical research excellence not only honours the achievements of researchers but also inspires progress, fosters collaboration, and enhances the overall impact of scientific advancements on global health and well-being,” said Prof Gray.

Gold medals are reserved for accomplished senior scientists who have made seminal contributions that have had a profound impact on the health of people, particularly those residing in developing nations. Awarded in this category were, Professors Alan Christoffels, Anthony Okoh, Cheryl Cohen, Mark Tomlinson, Ncoza Dlova, Pascal Bessong, Wendy Stevens, Stephen Tollman and Professor Penny Moore.

Silver medals are dedicated to scientists who have made important scientific contributions within 10 years of having been awarded their PhD or Master of Medicine (MMed). This year, the award recipients are Prof David Katerere, Dr Jinal Bhiman, Prof Robert Mash, Prof Kogieleum Naidoo, Prof Nicola Mulder, Prof Nigel Garrett, Dr Sibongile Walaza, Prof Wendy Burgers, and Prof Yandisa Sikweyiya.

https://youtu.be/mUXSzTPd5kY

The Bronze medals are awarded to scientists who have recently entered the health research field, with not less than five years post PhD experience. Taking a bow in this category were, Dr Maxleene Sandasi, Dr Duduzile Ndwandwe, Prof Nelita Du Plessis, Prof Olanrewaju Oladimeji, Prof Shahida Moosa, Dr Waasila Jassat, and Dr Yoshan Moodley.

Accelerating Africa’s access to affordable innovative diagnostic technologies

In October 2022, Prof Stevens, as the Executive Director, founded the Wits Diagnostic Innovation Hub (DIH), at the University of the Witwatersrand. The primary objective of Wits DIH is to continue providing affordable and accessible innovative diagnostics to those who need it the most –expanding the diagnostic portfolio to include non-communicable diseases and molecular oncology.

Prof Stevens has been responsible for the roll out of affordable CD4, viral load, EID and HIV drug resistance programs in South Africa and at  sixty centers in sub-Saharan Africa.

This portfolio includes the national molecular TB testing to 207 sites. These programs have been extended to vulnerable populations such as the Correctional Services and peri-mining communities.

Her success is due to the development of a strong research, operations and translational laboratory medicine and multi-disciplinary implementation team to support national disease priorities. This has included many innovations to address weaknesses in the pathology value chain to strive towards sustainable laboratory capacity in Africa.

In early 2020 she catapulted her teams focus towards COVID-19 activities and leveraged off their years’ experience in laboratory medicine to respond to necessary diagnostics for COVID-19.

Her research efforts since qualification have focussed largely on the HIV research arena over a period of 27 years. This can be supported by numerous peer reviewed publications and conference presentations.

Professor Wendy Stevens

With research activities that have included the expansion of early infant diagnosis of HIV, affordable HIV viral load, CD4 and investigation of HIV drug resistance.

In 2006, Prof Stevens received an award from the National Department of Science and Technology for her contribution to the development of laboratory capacity in Southern Africa. She has been an advisor to and an investigator for the following HIV research networks: the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) (New York), the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) (NIH funded, Seattle), the AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) (NIH funded), the Microbicide Development Program (UK based funding) and the ACTG Pharmacology Scientific Committee, amongst others.

As the Executive Director and founder of the newly established Wits Diagnostic Innovation Hub (Wits DIH) at the University of the Witwatersrand, she and her team aim to accelerate Africa’s access to affordable innovative diagnostic technologies, by providing a platform for innovators and suppliers to evaluate and validate these technologies, as well as provide guidance to regulatory and implementation frameworks within a real-world setting.

Wits Health and Research Management Essentials Programme

The Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of the Witwatersrand, in collaboration with Wits Health Consortium, recently ran a week-long programme in essential health and research management.

The ro ramme i troduced the dy amics of health research a d cli ical trials i a umber of i teractive sessio s, that i cluded

Overview a d types of health researc

Tre ds a d challe es i health researc troductio to cli ical trial

Research desi a d pla i - rotocol developme

Research ethics a d re ulatio

Scie tific writi

U locki ma a eme t esse tial

Challe es i ma a eme

Cli ical research pathways a d cli icia scie tist

How to i corporate research i to cli ical practis

Life as a cli icia scie tist a d the importa ce of me tor

Worki with E cel/Stat

How to write a repor

Research fu di a d ra tsma shi

Academic E trepre eurship - fi di employme t.

The ro ramme was facilitated by leadi e perts i their fields, i cludi

Christi e Groble

rofessor Hele Ree

Doctor Erica Lazaru rofessor Ziyaad Da o rofessor Shabir Madh

Thoko Mupawos rofessor Dierdre’ Kru e rofessor aul Ru

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Rayle e Ekstee

Tracey Herita rofessor Je ifer Gee rofessor Day ia Ballo

Catheri e Hil

Doctor Je ey heiffer-Coetzee

Traditional healers in rural Mpumalanga help diagnose HIV

An initiative of Wits University’s MRC/Wits Agincourt Research Unit, the Traditional Healers Project convened two ‘open houses’ at local primary healthcare facilities, Rolle Clinic and Thulamahashe Community Health Centre in rural Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga. The research project empowered traditional healers to conduct HIV testing, and to refer those positive for treatment, thereby curbing new infections.

An ‘open house’ is a community and stakeholder gathering hosted at a public health facility in partnership with the Department of Health.

The aim of these sessions was to build on the relationship that the MRC/Wits Agincourt Research Unit has established between local traditional healers, community members, and healthcare facility staff to support the end of HIV through regular HIV counselling and testing.

The sessions supplemented research that began almost a decade ago, which focuses on the role of traditional healers in healthcare access and delivery.

Specifically, this research aimed to determine whether traditional healers can conduct HIV counselling and testing (HCT whether the patients of traditional healers are willing to undergo HCT that is administered by a traditional heale whether traditional healers and biomedical healthcare workers can work together to help link patients to HIV/AIDS diagnosis and care.

The open house sessions formed part of this research and provided a platform where traditional healers and biomedical healthcare workers could come together and build mutual understanding and trust, with a view to linking

those who test positive for HIV with healthcare providers who can then administer lifesaving antiretroviral treatment (ART) and care.

The open houses drew an audience of more than 150 participants, including 15 traditional healers, local indunas [tribal chiefs], community healthcare workers (CHWs), community members, and representatives from Right to Care (a local collaborating partner on HIV) and the Department of Health.

Mr. Wonderful Mabuza, Project Manager at the MRC/Wits Agincourt Research Unit, oversees the open houses and says that the successes to date have far surpassed expectations:

“It is exciting to be part of the group that is doing this work, knowing that we have a lot of people who visit traditional healers in our communities. It’s groundbreaking to have traditional healers trained to provide HIV counselling and testing –and amazing to see community members respond, with some never having tested previously.”

Gogo Singabeni, one of the 15 traditional healers who has completed the programme, says: “I was very excited to be invited to the HIV training, and that we would be certified in HIV testing and counselling. It’s important to show people proof that I am certified to do HIV testing.”

Learn more at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crzfN44FKvk&t=154s

She adds: “The first day of testing [a patient] was very difficult for me. I was even shaking as I was conducting the test. I started with the first client, although I was shaking, and I managed to complete the process according to how we were trained. After the client left, I drew strength in seeing that I am able to do it.”

Dr Ryan Wagner, Senior Research Fellow at the MRC/Wits Agincourt Research Unit, leads the traditional healers programme known collectively as Ntirhisano (Shangaan for ‘working together’).

He emphasises the importance of the Ntirhisano team, traditional healers, community healthcare workers, and the Department of Health collaborating to strengthen the referral system.

“In order to expand coverage and increase uptake of HIV testing – and thereby contribute to ending new HIV cases – we need to embrace innovative approaches, such as traditional healer-initiated HIV counselling and testing,” says Wagner.

“We have recruited and trained 15 traditional healers in the Thulamahashe/Rolle area who, for the past six months, have been successfully testing their patients for HIV/AIDS. Those who tested positive have been referred to a local clinic or community healthcare worker.”

The Department of Health’s Primary Healthcare Supervisor, Sister Mariah Mkhari, says: “The Department of Health alone cannot do it, but with such collaborations between MRC/Wits and other stakeholders we will be able to conquer HIV. We welcome the initiative, and we hope Wits can expand to other areas in Bushbuckridge and train all traditional healers to test for HIV.”

The MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research unit, based in Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga and in the Wits School of Public Health in Johannesburg, Gauteng, has carried out population-based research in rural Mpumalanga for over 30 years. Ntirhisano is a workstream within the Agincourt research unit.

South Africa the 1st to welcome CAB for PrEP

In a recently published article by FHI360, 
 Nicolette Naidoo, Wits RHI’s principal investigator for CATALYST in South Africa, emphasizes, "The CATALYST journey is not ours alone." She underscores the importance of working closely with governmental health ministries, civil society organisations, and communities to ensure a comprehensive response to the prevention needs of populations. This collaboration is instrumental in shaping national guidelines and implementation strategies aimed at enhancing access to a spectrum of prevention options.

WASHINGTON — The Maximizing Options to Advance Informed Choice for HIV Prevention (MOSAIC) consortium, which is funded by PEPFAR through USAID and led by FHI 360, is introducing long-acting injectable cabotegravir for pre-exposure prophylaxis (CAB for PrEP) alongside oral PrEP and the PrEP ring in five African countries. South Africa and Zimbabwe are the first to welcome CAB for PrEP following regulatory approval and the arrival of donated product on site.

The rollout is part of Catalyzing Access to New Prevention Products to Stop HIV (CATALYST), a three-year, multi-country implementation study that aims to assess the delivery of multiple PrEP methods to an estimated 11,000 participants without HIV. The study is taking place across 28 public-health service delivery sites supported by PEPFAR in Kenya, Lesotho, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe. As of March 31, nearly 4,000 participants have been enrolled.

“USAID’s commitment to cutting-edge research and development is advancing innovative solutions to some of the world’s greatest health challenges,” says Dr. Atul Gawande, assistant administrator for global health at USAID. “We see that with CATALYST. This study is supporting women and girls by expanding their options of methods for HIV prevention and by producing findings that will guide the scale-up of these prevention methods across the African continent.”

“CATALYST is the largest study of its kind and represents a locally led, youth-focused implementation project in which participants have the opportunity to be among the first to learn about and try new PrEP methods,” says Dr. Kristine Torjesen, director of science facilitation at FHI 360. “They will also make their voices heard in how PrEP is rolled out in their communities, which is critical given that adolescent girls and young women continue to bear the brunt of the HIV epidemic in many places.”

The study is being conducted in two stages. Between May and October 2023, stage 1 launched across all sites in all five countries and includes tenofovir-based oral pills and the dapivirine ring (PrEP ring). Stage 2 begins once CAB for PrEP has been approved by the national regulatory authority in each country and donated product is available on site.

Learn more about CATALYST Study: https:// www.prepwatch.org/catalyst/

Participants will be followed for one to three years to collect information about how they choose, use, switch between and like the offered PrEP methods. The results of the study will provide evidence that can be used to inform future expansion and sustainability of HIV prevention options and help transform the HIV prevention landscape.