Expanding Coverage and Improving the Quality of Facility and Community-Based Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV Programs in Two Regions of Cameroon under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)

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The purpose of this program is to reduce HIV-related maternal and child mortality by ensuring geographic reach of comprehensive PMTCT services within the national MCH and reproductive health (RH) system. Specifically, it seeks to expand PMTCT coverage and improve uptake from approximately 35% to 90% in the Southwest Region of Cameroon, and to significantly improve uptake in one additional region of Cameroon, by integrating PMTCT services into existing ANC health facilities and promoting community-based PMTCT activites. Funds should also strengthen linkages between facility and community-based services to improve their effectiveness by increasing PMTCT utilization and follow-up of PMTCT clients (mother/infant pair) as well as improving linkages to comprehensive HIV services to ensure a continuum of care for pregnant HIV positive women and their exposed infants. Activities should include, but are not limited to the provision of: 1) HIV testing and counseling in ANC settings; 2) early infant diagnosis (EID); 3) antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) for HIV-positive mothers and exposed infants; 4) PMTCT education; and 5) establishing linkages to comprehensive care and treatment services for HIV positive mothers and their children.

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