Mauritania is poised to launch its first site for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) on December 1st 2005 as a result of south-to-south exchange on best practices between West African countries facilitated by the AWARE-HIV/AIDS Project of USAID/WA.

Having an HIV infection rate as low as 0.8% among pregnant women could pass as an achievement in the fight against HIV/AIDS for any African country. However, this is not to be for Mauritania , which has identified the fight against HIV/AIDS as a major priority and has decided to minimize Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV (MTCT) on its soil. In order to arrive at this end, in addition to the need for appropriate infrastructure for maternal and child care (MCH), there is a need to have the right policy and expertise in PMTCT in place, which Mauritania lacked.

To support the Mauritanian authorities quest to reduce MTCT, AWARE-HIV/AIDS, organized a study tour for two (2) Mauritanian reproductive health providers at the Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Board (CBCHB) in Cameroon , a centre which has been selected and supported by AWARE as a learning site for its successful experience in PMTCT. During the study tour, the two Mauritanians were supported to develop an Action Plan on how best they were going to apply (replicate) the experience seen at CBCHB.

Following the study tour, experts in PMTCT from AWARE-HIV/AIDS and CBCHB traveled to Mauritania to provide technical assistance in the finalization of the Action Plan. To support the implementation of this action plan, AWARE-HIV/AIDS stimulated and established an active collaboration with the National AIDS Control Secretariat, UNICEF/Mauritania, and the World Bank MAP. Through this collaboration the following has been achieved:

•  A National Policy on PMTCT has been developed

•  An assessment of MCH services was conducted and allowed the identification of the first site for the initiation of PMTCT services (Sebkha Health Center)which will also serve as the learning/reference centre for the country

•  PMTCT Training Modules have been developed based on the WHO/CDC training materials

•  Sebkha providers have been trained.

As part of the commemoration of the World AIDS Day 2005, the first PMTCT site will be launched at the Sebkha Health Center by the Minister of Health of Mauritania on December 1 st .

All the above have been made possible by the efficient and successful support by AWARE-HIV/AIDS in collaboration with partners on the ground such as SENLS and UNICEF/Mauritania.