the united republic of tanzania health sector hiv and aids strategic plan

Achievements
Currently 659 sites (10.6%) out of 5,379 are providing the core elements of PMTCT services
including HTC, antiretroviral prophylaxis, and infant feeding counseling integrated in
reproductive and child health services. Table 5 below.
Table 7: Expansion of PMTCT services: coverage by region, district and facility type
PMTCT
Attribute
National Coverage
Percent
Number of Regions 21 21 100.0%
Number of Districts
23 |FINAL COMBINED-HSHSP 2008-2012: June 24 th 2007
126 120 95.2%
Hospitals 219 137 62.5%
Health Centres 481 191 39.7%
Dispensaries 4,679 331 07.1%
Total number of
facilities
5,379
659
12.2%
In 2006, PMTCT sites recorded 363,516 bookings (26%) of all ANC bookings. About 336,745
(93%) of these first ANC bookings were pre tested, while 95% of those counseled (8.2%) were
found to be HIV positive. About 53 percent of eligible HIV positive mothers received a course of
ARV prophylaxis (at ANC, during labour and at delivery).
Developed structures to coordinate the planning and implementation of PMTCT including having
a PMTC Coordinator.
Reviewed, printed and distributed national PMTCT guidelines,
o PMTCT guidelines, training materials, monitoring tools, managers orientation manual and a
draft Communications Strategy for PMTCT interventions
Trained 203 Trainers Of Trainers (TOT) and 2758 service providers from all the 659 sites
providing PMTCT services in the country
Developed and pre tested a set of IEC materials addressing issues of male involvement, stigma
associated with MTCT, home deliveries and follow up services for the mother and child
In certain areas PMTCT funds have been used to renovate some RCH clinics and labor and
delivery wards that were in bad shape.
Challenges
Aspects Challenges for PMTCT
Availability • Only 659 health facilities out of a total of 5379 are providing PMTCT services
• Only 12% of HIV positive pregnant women are receiving ARV prophylaxis
Equitable access • Rural pregnant women are less likely to be offered HIV testing than urban women in
RCH.
• 27.8% of urban and only 6.3% of rural women aged 15 to 49 who were pregnant in
the past 2 year were offered and accepted HIV test during antenatal clinics.
(THIS,2004)
• limited access of pregnant women identified to a comprehensive package of
Reproductive Health and HIV prevention, care and treatment services inspite of the
existence of 216`ART centers.
Quality • Only 38% of identified HIV positive pregnant women received Nevirapine (NVP).
• Only 54% of HIV+ exposed infants receive ARV prophylaxis after birth
• Reasons include frequent stock-out of NVP and the practice to give NVP at 28
weeks gestation and low institutional deliveries
• Only 6.9% HIV infected women opt for replacement feeding.
• Weak coordination of implementing partners
• Central unit involved in direct implementation of projects
Sustainability • Funds to accelerate PMTCT efforts from Government, Partners and the community