PMTCT CHALLENGE; ZAMBIA
PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED
Retention in care and adherence to anti-retroviral treatment for people living with HIV.
Learn more about the PMTCT Challenge and how increasing completion of antiretroviral therapy (ART) to prevent mother to child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV can decrease HIV rates and improve lives.
DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION
Retention in care and adherence to treatment remain challenges for HIV patients in Zambia. Across the country, HIV prevalence remains high at 12.3% among adults and 1.3% among children.
Inspire Zambia Foundation will run a pilot at two hospitals that support anti-retroviral therapy (ART) services in the province of Lusaka. The pilot will focus on strengthening the links between newly identified HIV patients and the tracking of patients who are already receiving ART treatment. Ensuring that new patients begin, adhere to, and complete crucial ART treatment will be done by building the capacity of community health workers (CHWs). Inspire Zambia Foundation will train CHWs to work as Adherence Counselors using a new curriculum and a system of Mobile Patient Tracking. This intervention enhances the quality of HIV programming in Zambia, focusing on CHWs and their potential to improve patient experience and adherence to the ART regimen. This direct, personal touch has been shown to improve adherence rates and therefore decrease instances of mother to child transmission of HIV.
PILOT AND SCALING GOALS
Work with 2 health facilities implementing PMTCT interventions during the pilot
Work with 66 health facilities implementing PMTCT interventions by the end of year 2
Train 15 ACMPTs during the pilot
Train 500 ACMPTs by the end of year 2
Counsel 900 patients on ART adherence with revised curriculum during pilot
Counsel 100,000 patients on ART adherence with revised curriculum by the end of year 2
FOUNDING TEAM
Fred Chitalu - Team Lead
Mulenga Mukanu - Linkage Coordinator
Ruth Mkala - Curriculum Development and Training Manager
Zita Zulu - Finance Manager