Enhancing PrEP Access for At-Risk Young People Through Pharmacy-Delivered Oral PrEP in Nigeria

Pharmacy-based PrEP Delivery in Nigeria.

Aiming to expand HIV prevention in Nigeria, this groundbreaking project leverages retail pharmacies to deliver PrEP to youth, drawing inspiration from Kenya's successful model and holding the potential to transform access and improve public health outcomes. 

Project is Not Currently Available

This project is not being offered for the current term. Please check back next semester for updates.

Project description

Nigeria’s Ministry of Health aims to strengthen HIV prevention efforts by expanding access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for young people at high risk of infection. This project proposes linking PrEP services to retail pharmacies, leveraging their accessibility, confidentiality, and popularity among youth seeking sexual and reproductive health services. The project is funded by a 2024 developmental grant from the University of Washington/Fred Hutch Center for AIDS Research, an NIHfunded program under award number A1027757. Inspired by Kenya’s successful pharmacy-delivered PrEP model, the project is structured around three key objectives: adapting the Kenyan model for Nigeria through stakeholder engagement; piloting the contextualized model in selected Abuja pharmacies to assess PrEP uptake and retention; and estimating implementation costs alongside client willingness to pay. The pilot phase will run from February to August 2025 in Abuja, testing the feasibility of the pharmacy-delivered PrEP model in real-world settings (in two private pharmacies). The student’s primary role will involve overseeing data management processes remotely and ensuring data quality, with data collection facilitated through KoboToolbox. Additionally, the student will contribute to analyzing study outcomes and presenting key findings upon project completion. This study has the potential to significantly enhance PrEP delivery for youth in Nigeria, reducing barriers to access and improving public health outcomes. 

Project outcome

  1. Hands-on Research Experience: The student will gain practical experience in implementing a public health research project, particularly in the areas of HIV prevention and PrEP delivery models.
  2. Data Management and Analysis Skills: By overseeing data collection through KoboToolbox and ensuring data quality, the student will develop advanced data management skills. Also, the student will also acquire experience in analyzing quantitative and qualitative data, contributing to evidence-based decision-making.
  3. Presentation and Reporting Skills: The student will assist in preparing and presenting study findings, which will enhance their ability to communicate complex data to both academic and non-academic audiences.

Project details

Timing, eligibility and other details
Length of commitment Longer than a semester; 6-9 months
Start time February 2025-August 2025
In-person, remote, or hybrid? Individual Student Project
Level of collaboration Small group project (2-3 students)
Benefits

Stipend

Research experience
Who is eligible All undergraduate students enrolled in Public Health or a related field, completed coursework in research methods, familiarity with HIV prevention and public health principles, basic knowledge of data tools like KoboToolbox or REDCap is helpful, proficient in Excel and data cleaning, detail-oriented with an understanding of research ethics and data confidentiality

Core partners

Project mentor

Obinna Ekwunife

Associate Professor

Department of Medicine

Phone: (857) 258-0642

Email: ekwunife@buffalo.edu

Start the project

  1. Email the project mentor using the contact information above to express your interest and get approval to work on the project. (Here are helpful tips on how to contact a project mentor.)
  2. After you receive approval from the mentor to start this project, click the button to start the digital badge. (Learn more about ELN's digital badge options.) 
Start the Digital Badge

Preparation activities

Once you begin the digital badge series, you will have access to all the necessary activities and instructions. Your mentor has indicated they would like you to also complete the specific preparation activities below. Please reference this when you get to Step 2 of the Preparation Phase. 

  1. Orientation and Goal Setting: Begin with an orientation to introduce project objectives, scope, and methodology, followed by goal-setting aligned with the student’s aspirations.
  2. Weekly Check-ins: Regular one-on-one meetings to monitor progress, address challenges, and provide feedback.
  3. Technical Training: Hands-on training in research tools like KoboToolbox, data cleaning, analysis, and interpretation.
  4. Problem-Solving: Guided support for tackling challenges during project implementation to develop critical thinking skills.
  5. Professional Development: Participation in team meetings, stakeholder engagements, workshops, and site visits to foster interdisciplinary collaboration.
  6. Manuscript and Presentation Support: Mentorship in analyzing outcomes, drafting reports or manuscripts, and improving presentation skills for academic and stakeholder forums.

Keywords

Pre-expsoure prophylaxis (PrEP), HIV, Private Pharmacy, Implementation Science, Nigeria, Department of Medicine