Avante
The Avante program is funded by the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United States Government, and supports the Government of the Republic of Mozambique (GRM) in its efforts to control the HIV epidemic.
The main partner of the Avante program is the Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), which until September 2024 implemented the program through Friends in Global Health (FGH), an international NGO associated with VUMC. Since October 2024, C-Saúde has been the implementer of all Avante program activities in Mozambique.
Avante uses sustainable service models in the community and health units, covering various areas of the national response. In addition to the support provided to the Ministry of Health at the central level, the Avante program has a programmatic focus in the Zambézia province, the province with the highest number of people living with HIV in the country.
In the Zambézia province, C-Saúde supports 141 health units that serve over 370,000 patients receiving antiretroviral treatment across 19 districts. C-Saúde implements activities in six Strategic Areas:- Human Resources for Health – The recruitment, training, and mentoring of health professionals, lay personnel, and volunteers are the backbone of the Avante program.
- HIV Prevention – DREAMS activities; Gender-Based Violence services; Health Counseling and Testing services (ATS); and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) services.
- Care and Treatment (C&T) – C-Saúde strengthens patient-centered C&T services for HIV and TB by expanding the coverage and utilization of Viral Load testing; the Cervical Cancer Program (CACU); C&T services for Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women; and pediatric HIV services.
- Laboratory – C-Saúde enhances the provincial laboratory in Zambézia and the supported health unit laboratories, supporting External Quality Assessments at the national and provincial levels.
- Data Systems – C-Saúde operationalizes centrally developed systems and ensures the integrity of the database, providing data to clinicians to improve services.
- Quality Improvement (QI) – C-Saúde supports an intensive QI system, adapting implementation based on daily, weekly, and monthly reviews of these indicators.
HIV Care and Treatment
C-Saúde supports the implementation of a set of activities in health units and communities aimed at controlling the HIV epidemic.
Tuberculosis
C-Saúde’s support portfolio is comprehensive and focused on several areas essential to the fight against TB.
Cervical Cancer
C-Saúde supports the provision of high-quality cervical cancer screening and treatment services.