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Tinomuda Chakanyuka, Senior Reporter
HEALTH care workers in the country are set to undergo training on using Point-of-Care (POC) HIV testing technology as part of efforts by the Government to decentralise HIV services, an official has said.
This follows the recent acquisition of 100 POC machines worth over $5 million.
The machines will be used primarily for Early Infant Diagnosis (EID) and viral load testing.
Point-of-Care refers to availability of prompt diagnosis and prompt treatment at a health facility as opposed to the widely used centralised system which has a longer turnaround period between diagnosis and intervention.
Head of the TB and Aids Unit in the Ministry of Health and Child Care Dr Owen Mugurungi, said 50 health care workers will be trained on using the machines as part of the first phase of the decentralisation programme.
Dr Mugurungi said the training would be carried out in Harare from 10 to 12 January.
“We are moving very fast in implementing the decentralisation programme,” he said.
“We are now training the end users of the technology which will be used for (EID) and viral load testing.
“This is the first phase of the programme which will see 50 health care workers from 25 health centres being trained.”
Dr Mugurungi said more health workers would be trained in the second phase of the decentralisation programme after the Government acquired more machines.
“As you know we are receiving a new grant of the Global Fund and part of that grant will go towards buying more machines.
“So more health workers will be trained as we buy more machines and deploy them to our health centres across the country,” he said.
With Point-of-Care technology, health care workers will now be able to test, counsel and initiate patients on treatment on the same day at one health care facility without referrals.
Under the centralised system testing for HIV in infants is done at six weeks and results come out after about 10 weeks and in most remote areas where there are transport challenges, parents do not follow-up on the results, leading to delayed interventions.
Dr Owen Mugurungi said the 100 POC machines that were bought from a UK-based firm DRW, would be distributed to 25 selected sites across the country’s 10 provinces.
He said the machines would be used primarily for Early Infant Diagnosis of HIV and thus priority would be given to health centres that record high volumes of births.
“Priority will be given to clinics that are busy. Those that are around can also refer their samples to where the machines will be.
“The machines have been identified primarily for the Early Infant Diagnosis (EID) programme.
“We have prioritised the issue of knowing the status of those exposed babies or babies that are born of HIV positive mothers,” he said.
Dr Mugurungi said by reducing the turnaround time between diagnosis and intervention, the machines would help reduce loss-to-follow-up case where patients get tested but do not go back to collect their results.
“We want to know within three days of delivery whether or not an HIV positive mother has transmitted the virus to the baby and if so, then the baby would be put on treatment immediately,” he said.
A pilot project of the POC HIV testing using the newly acquired SAMBA machines was carried out at Rujeko Clinic in Dzivarasekwa high-density suburb and Hatcliffe Clinic in Harare, where the results were reportedly remarkable.
Dr Mugurungi added that apart from the SAMBA machines, the Government was also moving to increase the capacity of Gene-Expert machines at all hospitals so that they were able to carry out viral load testing.
Gene-Expert machines are presently being used for TB screening.
Dr Mugurungi said decentralisation of HIV service will increase access of the services to more people and help the country attain the envisaged goals of ending Aids by 2020.
Zimbabwe has been leading the fight against HIV in Africa and the country’s HIV response programme has received commendation from donor agencies. -@irielyan
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