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

2.3. Thematic Area 3: Cross-cutting issues
2.3.1. Introduction
The National Multi-Sectoral Strategic Framework on HIV/AIDS 2008-2012, lists cross cutting issues
including the enabling environment and gives a set of strategic objectives and core strategies for each
objective. The areas are mentioned as follows:
Laboratory services,
Counselling and testing,
IEC, BCC and fighting stigma, and
Condom promotion
These areas are cross-cutting and have a bearing on each of the activities in prevention, treatment, care
and support thematic areas.
Intervention Area 1: Laboratory services
Preamble
In order to support the comprehensive HIV and AIDS interventions, it is important to have good quality
laboratory services.
Situation analysis
The following achievements and challenges were encountered during the implementation of Strategic plan
for 2003-2006:
Achievements
Trainings have been conducted as follows
o A total of 200 laboratory staff from public and private health facilities have been trained
on HIV, CD4, hematology and chemistry testing.
o Non laboratory medical staff have been trained to perform HIV testing
Thirty laboratories have been renovated.
Laboratories have been equipped
o 59 CD4 machines, 109 haematology analyzers and 103 chemistry analyzers have been
installed in all referral hospitals, some regional and district health facilities.
o HIV infant diagnosis capacity have been established at Bugando;
Laboratory QA Guidelines have been developed,
o QA and HIV training laboratory is under construction at NIMR (final stages),
o External QA (EQA) for CD4 has been initiated and sustained in all labs performing the
test
New algorithm for Rapid HIV Testing has been developed and validated.
Existence of good procurement and supply management
o Distribution mechanism of laboratory reagents and supplies has been established
through MSD.
o A reporting and requisitioning (R&R) form through MSD system is in place.
Laboratory Act has been reviewed and tabled to allow HIV testing by non-lab health workers
A model of transporting laboratory samples (sample transport system) has been set up
Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for HIV tests, equipment and Opportunistic infections
especially TB have been created
Laboratory information systems (registers, data capture, reporting, and requisitions) necessary
for planning and implementation purposes are being developed.
40 |FINAL COMBINED-HSHSP 2008-2012: June 24 th 2007