This initiative reported obligating 83 percent of the funding requirements projected for FY 2003. The target of over $62 million was based on projected programming needs from USAID missions and was drawn from the total FY 2003 appropriation of $99 million. Implementation of the initiative was slowed down by initial interagency procedures that required detailed program designs and interagency strategies.

During 2003, the initiative helped prevent mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of the HIV virus by providing health and testing services to pregnant women. Activities to date have focused on building capacity at national, community, and health facility level for successful implementation of PMTCT services. The following results and outcomes of the initiative's activities were reported by the 12 countries in Africa and the Caribbean that implemented the initiative during the past year:

• 8 percent of women who were tested for HIV during antenatal clinic visits returned to receive their results. In Nigeria, the percentage was especially low (0.9-3.9 percent) because of the high level of stigma associated with HIV/AIDS in that country. Because providing testing services alone is not sufficient to overcome the stigma, the program intends to implement intensive community mobilization activities that stress the importance of receiving test results.
• 215 health sites provided at least the minimum package of PMTCT services in nine countries. In Uganda alone, 32 potential sites for renovated PMTCT clinics were assessed, and 5,000 HIV test kits were procured to support the national program.
• 10 percent of HIV-infected pregnant women received a complete course of treatment at antenatal clinics.
• In Haiti, the Ministry of Health finalized new national guidelines that are awaiting approval and distribution.

• USAID Health: Mother-to-Child Transmission
• USAID Health: Mother-to-Child Transmission Archives