Universal Journal of Public Health Vol. 5(6), pp. 298 - 303
DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2017.050602
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Civil Society's Contribution to Rolling out of Option B+ in Malawi - A Case of Umunthu Foundation

David Odali ^1,*, Yohane Gadama ^2
1 Umunthu Foundation, Malawi
² Queen Elisabeth Central Hospital (QECH), Malawi

ABSTRACT

Option B+ was developed in Malawi in 2010 and adopted in 2011 in response to the impracticality of implementing the World Health Organization (WHO) 2010 guidelines on prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV. The approach was deemed very ambitious in a Malawian setting given the ongoing service delivery challenges. Major challenges included shortage of human resources (qualified health staff), lack of proper infrastructure, stigma associated with taking antiretroviral drugs, shortages of HIV test kits and related accessories. Amidst these challenges, civil society organizations like Umunthu Foundation (UMUFO) partnered with government to better serve mothers living with HIV. UMUFO actively worked with communities to enhance awareness of Option B+ and aide in retaining women in care once initiated on ART. UMUFO has particularly been working with two public health facilities (Limbe and Bangwe Health Centers) in providing HIV testing services, infrastructural needs and hiring health workers. With these services, UMUFO has managed to maintain a significant increase of women tested and started on Option B+ by almost 200% (from 408 in 2014/2015 to 1219 women in 2016/2017) in 3 years. The impact UMUFO has had on rolling out of Option B+ clearly demonstrates the critical role civil society organizations can have in meeting national and global public health targets.

KEYWORDS
Option B+, PMTCT, Mentor Mothers, Antenatal, Civil-society Organizations, Umunthu Foundation, Malawi

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] David Odali , Yohane Gadama , "Civil Society's Contribution to Rolling out of Option B+ in Malawi - A Case of Umunthu Foundation," Universal Journal of Public Health, Vol. 5, No. 6, pp. 298 - 303, 2017. DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2017.050602.

(b). APA Format:
David Odali , Yohane Gadama (2017). Civil Society's Contribution to Rolling out of Option B+ in Malawi - A Case of Umunthu Foundation. Universal Journal of Public Health, 5(6), 298 - 303. DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2017.050602.