Global HIV/AIDS

Mozambique

HIV/AIDS in Mozambique

10.8% Estimated HIV Prevalence
(Age 15–49)(2013)
82,000 Estimated AIDS Deaths (2013)
810,000 Estimated Orphans due to AIDS (2013)
282,687 Reported Number of Adults Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy (ART)(2012)
48% Estimated ART Coverage per WHO 2010 Guidelines (2012)

SOURCE:
UNAIDS Gap Report, 2014; UNAIDS Global Report, 2013

Strategic Focus

Since 2000, CDC has supported Mozambique’s Ministry of Health (MOH) in delivering HIV prevention, care, and treatment services, and strengthening laboratory, surveillance, health infrastructure, and workforce capacity. CDC has supported operational research in all 11 provinces and provides clinical support for the seven provinces that comprise 75% of the country’s total HIV burden.

Building Integrated Care and Treatment Services
CDC supports the delivery of antiretroviral therapy (ART) to nearly 300,000 adults and children in Mozambique, and is helping to introduce viral load and drug resistance assessment for patients. CDC also supports prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) services at 638 health sites. Other focus areas include malaria prophylaxis and treatment, the Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (FELTP), and strengthening central and provincial partnerships.

Technical Assistance for National Policy Development
CDC’s collaboration with the Ministry of Health has contributed to the development of the following in the past two years: the National Accelerated Response HIV/AIDS plan, rapid policy adoption of option B+, a nationally led voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) strategy, national adoption of Community Adherence and Support Groups (GAAC), and an updated and standardized national peer-to-peer education program.

Key Activities and Accomplishments

Rapid Adoption and Scale-Up of Option B+
Collaborating with the Ministry of Health, CDC has facilitated the rapid adoption of Option B+ into national policies, and has supported its rollout, which has increased the proportion of PMTCT clients receiving ART to 76% by mid FY14, up from only 39% in FY13. In addition, official policy now emphasizes partner testing and treatment as prevention (initiation of ART with no clinical or immunologic criteria) for sero-discordant couples with an HIV-infected male partner of a pregnant woman.

National Accelerated Response to HIV/AIDS
Over the past few years, CDC-supported provinces have managed to significantly increase access to treatment and nearly double the number of people on treatment. This is in large part due the National Accelerated Response to HIV/AIDS- 2012-2013, which is a MOH led strategy that CDC staff had a pivotal role in conceptualizing, designing, implementing, and monitoring. Additionally, this year, the MOH is implementing a national strategy for Community Adherence and Support Groups (GAAC), based on the preliminary data from CDC’s pilot program that shows a very significant increase in mid-long term patient retention on treatment.

300,000+ Voluntary Medical Male Circumcisions
CDC supports over 30 fixed sites and two mobile units that have conducted 90% of the country’s 300,000+ VMMC procedures. CDC is expected to significantly accelerate VMMC in Mozambique, with significantly more than 200,000 procedures expected to be performed in this year alone.