Interim findings on the National PMTCT pilot sites. Summary of lessons and recommendations.

HIV/AIDS is affecting everyone in South Africa. There are many organisations and individuals working hard to fight the spread of the virus. In 2000 the South African government introduced a programme offering prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) services at 18 pilot sites. The programme is an important part of the country’s response to the epidemic. This booklet provides some basic facts about the effects of the medicine Nevirapine and formula feeding in a PMTCT programme. It then goes on to summarise the interim findings of an evaluation of the pilot sites. In the evaluation the process of setting up the sites and the progress being made in delivering services at each site was examined. In particular the evaluation aimed at assessing how successfully the following were being provided: Voluntary HIV testing to pregnant women. The Nevirapine drug to HIV positive pregnant women. Appropriate counselling and support for safe infant feeding practices. Follow-up care for mothers and their babies after delivery. It is important to note that the quality and effectiveness of any PMTCT programme rests on the efficiency of the public health system as a whole and not just on the dedicated management of the PMTCT programme itself. The evaluation therefore makes recommendations regarding the improvement of the health system as well as the PMTCT programme. (excerpt)