Summary

Program goals

The program aims to improve health access for HIV-positive mothers and their children by implementing an innovative model of efficient integration of quality services into one point of care. The clinics focus on providing the maximum possible care for mother and child in one monthly visit. 

Key program components

The clinics integrate services that had previously been offered separately, including maternal HIV services, infant services, family planning services, and maternal, newborn, and child health services.

HIV-positive mothers receive post-partum care, antiretroviral medication, CD4 testing, breastfeeding support and education, family planning information, nutritional support, and psychosocial services.

Children of these mothers receive post-partum care, tuberculosis and malnutrition screening, malaria prevention, and continued testing to determine HIV status.

Both mother and child receive regular visits at home from a designated accompagnateur. Costs for mothers unable to pay are covered through IMB’s support of Rwanda’s mutuelle national health insurance program.

Additional PMTCT innovations include the development of a new electronic medical records system that registers all infants born to HIV-positive mothers. Staff members can use this system to track down any children who miss appointments or experience adverse outcomes. IMB has also developed a team of expert nurses in PMTCT who provide ongoing mentorship and training to health centers.