PMTCT referral & outreach (Wurno)

Between 2016 and 2017, JCDI carried out a project in Wurno LGA aimed at reducing mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT). Funded by the Global Fund through ARFH, the project focused on increasing HIV screening among pregnant women and linking them to prevention and treatment services.

Community volunteers and health workers referred pregnant women to General Hospital Wurno for HIV testing as part of their antenatal care. In addition, community outreach sessions were conducted to raise awareness among families about the importance of PMTCT services and the benefits of early testing.

The program also included general population outreach for HIV counselling and testing. By normalizing HIV testing and providing supportive counselling, the project helped reduce stigma and increase uptake of services.

This initiative contributed to healthier pregnancies, reduced the risk of HIV transmission to newborns, and strengthened the health system’s capacity to deliver integrated maternal and HIV services. It also reinforced the importance of combining facility-based and community-based approaches for maximum impact.