Overall, IHP will contribute to strengthening prevention interventions, care, treatment and support for the virtual elimination of mother to child transmission, reducing the occurrence of new infections among newborn to HIV positive mothers in 250 PMTCT sites through target 80 health zones. The project also aims to improve the quality of life for PLWHA, especially women, mothers and children HIV-positive in promoting and facilitating their active participation in planning and services provision, advocacy and community engagement, and to build capacity of community health workers by involving them in PMTCT activities.

Specific objectives are focused on increasing availability of and access to quality PMTCT services and products in 250 PMTCT sites conducting BCC activities and trainings on ETL approach at both PMTCT sites and the community and strengthening management of PMTCT activities on providing technical and financial support to health zones, districts and provinces to ensure regular supervision, data collection and data quality control activities as well as timely reporting on PEPFAR indicators.

Monitoring and evaluation will be jointly organized with BCZ, PNLS and other partners and data regular monitoring in monthly basis will also be required in each supported health zone and health area.

IHP HIV funding contributes to strengthening the health system at health zone and provincial levels. That includes development of managerial and leadership capacities of health management teams through trainings and mentoring, elaboration of HZ 5-year development plans and annual operational plans, and provision of integrated supervision, quality improvement and M&E tools. These cross-cutting health system strengthening activities will benefit to GF implementation program.

IHP will provide cotrimoxazole as prophylaxis and we estimate 50% will benefit. IHP will work closely with other partners such as UNICEF, WFP, ACF to make food available. The project plans also to train 1000 community health workers to support HIV-positive pregnant women and PLWHA

OVC activities will now be integrated as part of the clincal and community services provided by IHP.

TB activities will now be integrated as part of the clincal and community services provided by IHP.

The project will implement the following PDCS activities in COP13: 1. Support tests for 938 HIV-exposed infant who will benefit from early diagnosis. 10% (94) during the first two months (from the 6th week of life) and 90% (844) between 2-12 months. 2. Ensure availability of drugs and other commodities for pediatric clients (HIV exposed infants, HIV infected children and adolescents)

4. Support needs for adolescents with HIV (Support groups, support for transitioning into adult services, adherence support)

5. Ensure supervision, improved quality of care and strengthening of health services for HIV-exposed infants

6. Promote integration with routine pediatric care, nutrition services and maternal health services.

7. Support laboratories activities and diagnostics for pediatric clients.

The following laboratory activities will be implemented by the project:

1. Provide support for minor renovations of 100 TB/HIV labs (50 old + 50 new) (provide running water, painting, tables, chairs and stools).

2. Purchase 100 biomedical kits for all 100 TB/HIV sites 3. Conduct staff capacity building

4. Conduct 5-day refresher training for 100 lab technicians on quality control for all TB/HIV sites.

5. Purchase sample analysis kits for 100 laboratories.

6. Send samples by CAA and/or DHL (four times a year for 100 laboratories).

7. Distribute and retrieve results of samples (4 times a year to 100 laboratories).

8. Support operating and management costs of labs

9. Provide Provincial TB program and NACP with office supplies (photocopy paper, printer and copier cartridges).

10. Print data management tools for TB sites (TB treatment cards, sheets of TB treatment, TB treatment registers, TB laboratory registers, Rumer, stock cards).

11. Print data management tools for coordination offices: Bristol paper (80 reams)/photocopier paper (80 reams)/cartridges for risograph (16 units).

12. Strengthen biosafety in TB HIV site

The project will implement the following HVSI related activities: 1. Support the production and multiplication of data management tools. 2. Organize trainings on data collection and RDQA for health providers. 3. Ensure the implementation of the collection, analysis and dissemination of HIV/AIDS behavioral and biological surveillance and monitoring information.

4. Conduct Opertaional research on HIV.

3. Reinforce the provincial and district program monitoring systems.

4. Support the development of country-led processes to establish standard data collection methods

The project will support the health zone management teams to provide support to PMTCT sites according to national standards in Tshumbe, Kole, Kolwezi and Mwene Ditu.

The objective of these activities is to reduce HIV transmission through blood transfusion from 10% to less than 2% in intervention areas by ensuring transfusion practices are followed in accordance with national standards. The project will ensure that a transfusion mapping of sites per health zone will be set up and clearly defined. Supplies, transfusion kits and equipment will be identified, ordered and available at all selected health facilities so that 99 % of blood transfusion is completely safe. Cold chains will be awarded in a progressive manner according to the needs of the respective health centers. Health zone teams, health providers, peers recruiters and community health workers capacities on blood transfusion will be strengthened by Safe blood for Africa. Strategies will be developed to educate communities about the need for voluntary blood donation and loyalty of voluntary donors of blood will improved. A coordination and technical exchanges framework with all partners to support the sector is in place and monitoring and evaluation system of blood safety activities are provided at all sites of implementation.Finally, the project will continue printing and distributing guides, standards, and modules.

The project will train 100 health providers (doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians, pharmacists or pharmacist assistants) and maintenance staff of all general reference hospitals in Tshumbe, Mwene Ditu and Kolwezi on management of biomedical waste. In addtion, the project will equip all health centers in Luiza, Uvira, Kolwezi and Kole with hospital hygiene kits (500 bins, 300 wheelbarrows , 300 boots, 1,000 gloves ). 100 incinerators will be constructed to improve waste management.

Abstinence and Be Faithful programs for youth and OVC activities will now be integrated as part of the clincal and community services provided by IHP.

The following VCT related activites will be conducted at health facility level in priority high prevalence health zones:

1. Train 250 health providers on HIV package focused on PICT and CDV in 50 PMTCT sites out of 300 (priority will be given to sites with high attendance rates, high HIV-positive rates, with the possibility of a continuum of care including taking ART).

2. Rehabilitate and equip 20 enclosed cubicles for counseling to improve privacy.

3. Reproduce and distribute data management tools.

4. Supply HIV tests to 300 PMTCT sites.

5. Support the operational cost of four Community VCT in Tshumbe, Kole, Kolwezi and Mwene Ditu.

6. Rehabilitate and equip four community VCT sites according to national standards.

7. Provide tests, commodities, and data management tools for 4 community VCT sites.

8. Support 4 community VCT sites to carry out interpersonal and mass communication activities and monthly mobile screening activities.

9. Send 32,000 SMS from 4 community VCT sites to increase HIV awareness and improve the return rate to the PMTCT sites after delivery.

Other prevention programs for youth and OVC activities will now be integrated as part of the clincal and community services provided by IHP.

In line with PEPFAR/DRC's new programming, IHP will use the PMTCT platform in targeted higher prevalence health zones to expand and improvie the COR.

1. Increase availability and access to quality PMTCT services in 250 health facilities (138 existing and 112 revitalized and new sites including PMTCT acceleration plan). Addressing the new PEPFAR strategy, all new PMTCT sites will be in the province of Katanga. An assessment of new sites will be conducted prior to integrating PMTCT. At the existing 138 sites the project will conduct a refresher training on PMTCT protocols for 690 individuals (5*138 sites). At the 112 new sites, 560 individuals will be trained on integrated HIV modules and infection control and the new PMTCT protocol including early diagnosis and prevention of infections. Utilization of finger prick will be piloted in 24 selected PMTCT sites (3 sites per 8 health zones to be selected) and supplies, equipments needs for 50,00 pregnant women will be ordered directly by PEPFAR. IHP will provide HIV rapid tests and DDF kits for the 250 PMTCT sites and support CD4 testing for approximately 20% of pregnant women HIV+.

2. Conduct BCC awareness and community mobilization activities: 10 local organizations and PLWHA associations will be selected to provide technical and financial support to community-based organizations (local NGOs, faith-based organizations ...). 1,600 community health workers will be trained on how to fight against HIV/AIDS. A space for confidential psycho social, counseling and referral support will be created to discuss sensitive issues related to HIV through the SMS system (the proejct will work with other partners such as Provic and TB/2015).The project will sign contracts with community radio broadcasting to improve community awarness about HIV/AIDS. IEC materials will produced and printed for 1200 community outreach.

3. Strengthen management of PMTCT activities: The project will provide technical and financial support to health zones, districts and provinces to ensure regular supervision data collection (including provision of data collection tools) and data quality control activities, print and distribute 500 units of new PMTCT protocol.

The project will train 300 health services providers and community health workers who have not yet completed an in-service training on HIV package including community awareness and PLHIVs psychosocial support.The management of PMTCT activities will be strengthened by: conducting 32 joint supervision visits between IHP staff, Provincial NACP and NRHP to the PMTCT sites, and conducting 4 joint supervision visits between the national and provincial NACP and IHP staff to the sites. These funds will also be used to ensure that all necessary staff are trained in the provision of ARVs.

The project will implement the following PDTX activities in COP13: 1. Support capacity building for health service providers and facilities on treating children.

2. Build the capacity at national, regional, district and clinical sites to supervise, routinely collect data, and monitor the quality of services.

3. Support adherence in pediatric populations, improve overall retention on treatment and establish functional linkages between programs with the community to reduce losses to follow up and improve long-term outcomes.

4. Expand capacity to provide early infant diagnostic services, rolling out PITC HIV testing in infants, children and adolescents.