Zambia HIV/AIDS Prevention, Care and Treatment Partnership (ZPCT) Quarterly Report (January 1 – March 31, 2009)

ZPCT supports the Government of the Republic of Zambia's (GRZ) goals of reducing prevalence rates and providing antiretroviral therapy (ART) by implementing technical, program, and management strategies to initiate, improve, and scale-up prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT), counseling and testing (CT), and clinical care services for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA), including ART. During the reporting quarter, ZPCT supported implementation of HIV/AIDS services in 219 health facilities in 35 districts in the five target provinces, with 218 of these facilities now reporting results. A detailed list of all ZPCT-supported facilities and the services provided is available in ANNEX A. Key activities and achievements for this reporting quarter include: CT services are ongoing in 218 of the 219 health facilities, with 54,820 individuals receiving CT services in these facilities. PMTCT services were provided in 210 facilities, with 35,329 women receiving PMTCT services (including CT) and 5,268 provided with a complete course of ARV prophylaxis. Ongoing technical assistance was provided to expand and improve clinical palliative care services in all targeted health facilities, with 97,488 individuals receiving palliative care through the 218 reporting health facilities. ART services were available in 34 districts supported by ZPCT. A total of 6,971 new clients (including 514 children) were initiated on ART through all 103 ART sites, of which 46 are static and 57 are outreach sites. Of the 103 ART sites, 95 sites report independently and eight sites report through larger facilities. By the end of this reporting period, 73,665 individuals were receiving ART, and of these, 1,093 were children. Training courses were conducted this quarter, including basic CT training for 39 health care workers (HCWs) from 15 districts of Luapula and Northern Provinces, child counseling training for 22 HCWs and 29 community volunteers, couple counseling training for 40 HCWs and 13 community volunteers, and stigma reduction training for 33 HCWs. Additionally, 61 HCWs were trained in pediatric ART and Opportunistic Infection (OI) management, 91 HCWs were trained in ART and OI management, and 138 HCWs were trained in dry blood spot (DBS) collection. The implementation of these training courses and services is a critical component of ZPCT's efforts to strengthen and expand HIV/AIDS clinical services in Zambia. By providing training and technical assistance to health care workers and community volunteers, ZPCT aims to improve the quality and accessibility of HIV/AIDS services, ultimately contributing to the reduction of prevalence rates and the provision of ART to those in need. ZPCT's work in the five target provinces is focused on supporting the Government of the Republic of Zambia's goals of reducing prevalence rates and providing ART. The partnership works closely with the MoH, PHOs, and DHOs to implement technical, program, and management strategies to initiate, improve, and scale-up PMTCT, CT, and clinical care services for PLHA, including ART. By working together, ZPCT and its partners aim to improve the health and well-being of people living with HIV/AIDS in Zambia. The implementation of HIV/AIDS services in 219 health facilities in 35 districts in the five target provinces is a significant achievement for ZPCT. The partnership's efforts to provide training and technical assistance to health care workers and community volunteers have resulted in improved quality and accessibility of HIV/AIDS services, ultimately contributing to the reduction of prevalence rates and the provision of ART to those in need.