PMTCT Acceleration Project Quarterly Report April - June 2014

The project aims to scale-up rapidly and effectively PMTCT services in these provinces. The objectives of the project are to prevent HIV among women of childbearing age, prevent unwanted pregnancies among HIV-positive women, prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission, and provide care and support to HIV-positive women, their infants, and their families. During the third quarter of FY 2014, the project supported 189 service outlets providing PMTCT services, including antenatal clinics, HIV testing and counseling, diagnosis and management of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), safe obstetrical practices, counseling for safe infant feeding, and follow-up until 18 months of age. Among 32,590 pregnant women who attended the first antenatal care (ANC) visits, 28,325 (86.9%) were tested for HIV and 28,061 (99% of ANC attendees tested) received their test results. In addition to these women reached in ANC1, 11,424 women who attended other ANC than the first one or during Labor and Delivery (L&D) were tested for HIV and among them 11,231 (98%) received their results. The total number of HIV-positive pregnant women is 510 (338+172), and the number of pregnant women knowing their HIV status is 39,464 (28,061+11,231+172). The rate of pregnant women knowing their HIV status is 89.6% (39,464/44,014). The project also provided training to 80 health providers on HIV counseling and testing, and 87,535 individuals were tested for HIV, with 87,030 (99.4%) receiving their test results. The HIV positivity rate among those tested is 1.7% (1,460/87,535), with 2% for males (417/20,840), 1.5% for females (1,043/66,695), and 2.4% for children under 15 years (95/3,927). Those who tested HIV-positive were referred to clinical care services for cotrimoxazole/ARVs-eligibility assessment and care. The project also encouraged sexual partners of pregnant women to be tested for HIV, with 718 male partners tested for HIV within this quarter. The project has also implemented other activities, including pre-service training, capacity building, family planning and gender-based violence (FP/GBV), performance of facilities provided with laboratory support, monitoring and evaluation, and technical assistance. The project has signed agreements with 13 Health Districts of the four provinces, two hospitals, and six civil society organizations. The PMTCT Acceleration Project has made significant progress in achieving its objectives, including the prevention of HIV among women of childbearing age, the prevention of unwanted pregnancies among HIV-positive women, the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission, and the provision of care and support to HIV-positive women, their infants, and their families. The project continues to work towards its objectives and has made significant progress in scaling-up PMTCT services in the four provinces of Burundi. The project's achievements in the third quarter of FY 2014 include the provision of HIV testing and counseling services to 87,535 individuals, with 87,030 (99.4%) receiving their test results. The project also provided training to 80 health providers on HIV counseling and testing, and 67 HTC delivery points provided data on the testing of male partners of pregnant women. The project has also made significant progress in achieving its objectives, including the prevention of HIV among women of childbearing age, the prevention of unwanted pregnancies among HIV-positive women, the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission, and the provision of care and support to HIV-positive women, their infants, and their families. The project's success can be attributed to its strong partnerships with local health facilities, civil society organizations, and the government of Burundi. The project's focus on scaling-up PMTCT services has made a significant impact in reducing the number of HIV-positive pregnant women and their infants. The project's achievements demonstrate its commitment to improving the health and well-being of women and children in Burundi. The project's future plans include continuing to scale-up PMTCT services, increasing access to HIV testing and counseling, and providing care and support to HIV-positive women, their infants, and their families. The project will also continue to work with local health facilities, civil society organizations, and the government of Burundi to ensure the sustainability of PMTCT services in the four provinces of Burundi.