Universal Test and Connect for HIV Service Delivery in South Africa

The goal of this NIH-funded R34 proposal is to integrate universal test and connect in two high volume EDs (one a high-volume tertiary care trauma center and another a high-volume district level facility) in Cape Town, South Africa. This project is funded from 2024-2027, and aims to integrate HIV assessment and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) delivery into Emergency Departments to bridge the gap in awareness and prevention of HIV transmission. We seek to pilot the delivery of oral and long-acting PrEP to ED patients using an implementation science lens. This effort has led to a deep collaboration with the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation led by Dr. Linda-Gail Bekker, and a Memorandum of Understanding between Johns Hopkins University and University of Cape Town.