AEGiS-15IAC: Three years of the National PMTCT program in Cameroon: From a Pilot to a National Public Health program.

15th International AIDS Conference

Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

Three years of the National PMTCT program in Cameroon: From a Pilot to a National Public Health program.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. E10214)

Tsague L, Njom Nlend A, Engozo'o A, Monny Lobe M, Ayouba A, Nerrienet E, Tene G, Eteki N, Nkam M, Tejioken M, Tchendjou P, Tih P, Thonnon J, Affana G, Penda I, Same Ekobo C, Dillow A, Koulla S, Zekeng L
National Aids Control Committee, Yaounde, Cameroon

ISSUES: In early 2000, Cameroon began implementing a pilot PMTCT program in three hospitals with successful results. Over the past three years, the challenge was the scaling up of activities to all the country in other to have a meaningful impact.

DESCRIPTION: In 2002, the Ministry of Public Health (MOH) validated a national PMTCT policy to guide the scaling up of services in all the ten provinces, with the aim to provide PMTCT services in at least 80% of health districts by 2005. MOH has provided strong leadership for PMTCT and has faclitated working partnerships with civil society, private and confessionnals sectors. Technical Guidelines for VCT, PMTCT, Infant feeding, have been established. Cameroon PMTCT program is supported by the government, and its partners (World Bank, UNICEF, FGSK, EGPFA/CBCHB, and PLAN). The National Aids Control Committee (NACC) has provided coordination, training, monitoring and support to the program. Monitoring tools and software for data management have been developped.

LESSONS LEARNED: An overall 62,817 pregnant women were counseled on HIV in 160 PMTCT sites across the country in 2003. These activities have been introduced in 30% of health district. 48% of PMTCT sites are from private and faith based sector while 52% are from public sector. The median uptake of HIV testing was 70%, and the median HIV-seropositiy rate was 7.24% (95% CI: 7-7.48%). Among the 3,330 HIV-seropositive women, 1,432 (43%) were given Nevirapine® tablet at the 34th week of pregnancy to take at the onset of labour. Of those women, 80 % (95% CI: 78-82%) took their Nevirapine tablet before delivery and all their babies were treated. Decentralisation of the NACC activities, large scale distribution of technical guidelines, multi-partners involvement, strong partnership with private sector were key factors for the success of this scaling up. Recommandations: In order to ensure Cameroon's PMTCT program scale-up and success, a detailed expansion plan should be developed with all the stakeholders with emphasis on the involvement of private sector.

Keywords: AEGIS, National Health Programs, Nevirapine, Federal Government, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Health Planning, Public Sector, United Nations, Private Sector, Health Services, Cameroon, Health, Demography, United States, Humans, Female, Infant, Pregnancy, organization & administration

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