Improving access to HIV testing and other basic health services in rural

areas of Malawi through mobile clinics

E.S. Schell, RN, PhD, FAAN; A. Bvumbwe, SRN, CNM;

W. Rankin, PhD; S. Youmans, PharmD.; J. Laviwa, MA

Global AIDS Interfaith Alliance

Funded by the Elizabeth Taylor HIV/AIDS Foundation

HIV/AIDS in Malawi

•Population 15 million•930,000 PLWHA•Adult HIV prevalence 11.9%• 59% of infected adults are women•68,000 deaths annually due to AIDS•Treatment with anti-retroviral drugs available to

55% of those who need it

Services Offered• Rapid HIV testing and referral for

treatment• Diagnosis and treatment of malaria • Sputum collection for suspected

tuberculosis (TB) • Diagnosis and treatment of STIs and other

acute illnesses• Pre-natal care • Growth monitoring for under-5s

Mobile Clinic Team

• Clinical Officer• Community Health Nurse• Nurse Aide• Driver

Mobile Clinic Client Visits 2009

  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec AnnualTotals

ChitakaleClient visits

2230 2293 2177 2059 1160 1354 2010 2001 1904 2231 1609 481 21509

MulozaClient Visits

1312 1984 1566 1473 1166 1760 1364 1071 1137 1807 915 1583 17138

Mobile Clinic Common Illnesses

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

2009

Clinical Malaria, Under 5 y.o.

Upper Respiratory Infection (allages)

Clinical Malaria, 5 y.o. and over

Under 5 y.o. pneumonia

Diarrhea

Govt. Health Center and GAIA Mobile Health Clinic

Under-5 y.o. Clinical Malaria Apr-Dec 2009

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Local Health Centers

GAIA Mobile Health Clinic

Mobile Clinic HIV Prenatal Testing 2009

No. of prenatal women counseled for testing

721

No. of prenatal women tested(74.3% of those counseled)

536

HIV positive(20.0% of those tested)

110

Mobile Clinic HIV Testing (including Prenatal) 2009

  Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec AnnualTotals

Total Tested for HIV

176 106 144 246 164 186 326 286 309 295 176 169 2583

No. Found HIV+

24 43 53 67 29 45 70 61 62 46 27 28 555

% testing HIV+

14% 41% 37% 27% 18% 24% 21% 21% 20% 16% 15% 17% 21.5%

“I am so proud of the work being done by GAIA to bring HIV prevention and care services to impoverished areas of Malawi through the use of mobile medical clinics.  I wish them continued success in providing invaluable assistance to the wonderful people of Malawi.” - Dame Elizabeth Taylor

Zikomo!

Global AIDS Interfaith AllianceBox 29110

San Francisco, California 94120-0110 USAwww.thegaia.org