Education International Postgraduate Diploma in Infection Prevention and Control (IPDIC)

Organized by Infection Control Africa Network (ICAN)

The Infection Control Africa Network (ICAN) is the largest infection prevention and control (IPC) non-profit organization in Africa. ICAN’s major goals are:

1. To support and establish national IPC societies and structures;
2. To promote and facilitate infection control programs and AMR/AMS at facility and national level to strengthen health systems through education and mentorship by engaging communities at national and local levels. 

ICAN is the leading infection control association in Africa with over 15 years experience and IPC voice in Africa. They are a preferred training service provider for the World Health Organization (WHO), Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) and the Africa Centre for disease control (ACDC) throughout the African continent. ICAN has the expertise and infrastructure to provide IPC training for both clinical and non-clinical parties. 

ICAN has successfully trained over 2,000 students in IPC between 2014 and 2019. Since COVID-19 in 2020, they have moved all training to a virtual platform. Webinars and virtual training have educated over 50,000 students from over 50 English member state countries and over 30 French countries. 

Learn more about the IPDIC course by ICAN on their website: International Postgraduate Diploma in Infection Prevention and Control (IPDIC).

Program and admission

The IPDIC is a two-year part-time course with five modules. Each module has a mandatory online contact session once every two weeks. At the end of each module there is a formal online written examination, followed by a eight-week period of practical work to be done at own facilities. A formal assignment must be submitted after this period. The course is a combination of lectures and practical work.

Course outcomes

Successful candidates will be equipped to advance their careers in infection prevention and control (IPC) by developing, managing, and leading IPC programs at both hospital and community levels. They will also contribute to strategic planning, conduct infection surveillance, evaluate communicable diseases, and apply quality improvement for cost-effective health systems.

Admission requirements

This two-year postgraduate program is aimed at healthcare professionals working in healthcare in a low/middle income country, mainly aimed at (but not limited to) African healthcare professionals.

Educational requirements:

• A Bachelors degree in a relevant healthcare field, including nursing (e.g. BCur), and medicine (E.g. MB, ChB), or equivalent qualification.
• An NQF level 7 qualification, such as a BSc or MSc degree in Microbiology or an equivalent field.

Professional experience:

• A minimum of two years’ experience in an IPC-related subject or holding an IPC position.

Course requirements

• A dedicated mentor to oversee and sign off on all projects and logbooks.
• Access to a healthcare facility to carry out assignments and practical activities.
• Access to stable and uninterrupted internet.
• Basic computer literacy.
• Proficiency in English (speaking, reading, writing).
• Own dedicated electronic device/laptop.

Assessment

Each module includes a formal assessment, with continuous and practical assessments conducted during and after the contact sessions, such as written assignments, group assignment and individual examinations. Completion and passing of all modules is required for graduation.

Who is this program for?

Postgraduate Diploma in Infection Prevention and Control (IPDIC) is facilitated by Radboudumc Health Academy, in collaboration with Infection Control Africa Network (ICAN). The program is aimed at healthcare professionals who choose IPC as a career, and provides training for infection control practitioners and science graduates in infection control. The goal is to develop skills and capacity in infection control, antimicrobial stewardship, management of health care, research epidemiology and implementation science, resulting in evidence-based cost-effective health support program. 

More information 

Visit the ICAN website for more information about the content of this course. The IPDIC course page: International Postgraduate Diploma in Infection Prevention and Control (IPDIC). 

Dr. Molebogeng Kolojane NHLS, South Africa

Dr Molebogeng Kolojane is a clinical microbiologist based at the microbiology laboratory at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH) in South Africa. Dr Kolojane also supports district and regional hospitals in the Johannesburg Central and West Rand area as an outreach pathologist. She is involved in the undergraduate and post graduate microbiology training at the University of Witwatersrand. Her special interests are in Infectious Diseases, Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and antimicrobial stewardship. She is involved in outbreak investigation, establishing antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs in outreach health care facilities and offer laboratories support. Dr Kolojane is a member of several committees as well as a co-opted member of the ICAN board.

Dr. Alma Tostmann Radboudumc, the Netherlands

As hospital epidemiologist, Dr. Tostmann is responsible for the surveillance and outbreak detection of Healthcare Associated Infections in Radboudumc; together with the Hygiene and Infection Control Unit team which consists of a clinical microbiologist and infection prevention experts. Her research and teaching interests include global public health, infectious disease prevention and outbreak detection and control.

She is the regional epidemiologist for the regional antimicrobial and infection prevention network GAIN and is appointed as one the Regional Epidemiologists by the Dutch Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). She teaches in the European training program for field epidemiologists (with ECDC).