Role of Project Management Team (PMT) in HIV Program Implementation in Nigeria

Background: Jhpiego is implementing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-(CDC) funded PMTCT/HTC project in 15 health facilities in Nigeria. The project was initially under the control of respective hospitals' management. Jhpiego thereafter worked with each of these facilities to establish a Project Management Team- (PMT) that comprises of trained counselors and some key facility staff. The PMT mandate includes; coordination of the project, monitor project progress, communicates program reports and challenges to Jhpiego and make use of program results/feedbacks to improve program quality especially clients' retention (a major challenge in all the hospitals). Methodology: Data for specific program level indicators in the 15 supported facilities were captured after one-year during which the project was completely managed by the hospital management and one-year after the PMT had taken charge of the project on behalf of the hospital management and Jhpiego. Some program level indicators were collated, analyzed and compared in these two project periods to assess if there are differences in terms of results and achievements

Results: The result showed: 38% facility based delivery before and 68% after the introduction of PMT (p< 0.001).Also, clients retention increase from 36% to 67% with PMT and In addition, turnaround time of reports submission by the sites improved from 7% to 80% before and after introduction of PMT (p<.05). Conclusion: This study showed that the use of PMT enhanced program coordination, improved clients' retention and uptake of ANC services including hospital deliveries when compared with managing program under the broad hospital management structure.