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HST provides free electronic access to over 500 health systems research related reports, publications and papers. Close to 300 of these are publications that have been commissioned and funded by the Trust. Topics include among others district systems development, drug supply management, human resource development, informatics, legislation, finance, environmental health, mental health, lessons learnt, nutrition and sexually transmitted diseases / HIV/AIDS. The main publication of the HST is the annual South African Health Review. From 2005 all HST publications will be available in low resolution only. To explore the range of publications HST offers use the Advanced search to search using a variety of criteria.

The programme is an important part of the country s response to the epidemic. This booklet provides some basic facts about the effects of the medicine, Nevirapine, and formula feeding in a PMTCT programme. It then goes on to summarise the interim findings of an evaluation of the pilot sites.

In the evaluation the process of setting up the sites and the progress being made in delivering services at each site was examined.

In particular, the evaluation aimed at assessing how successfully the following were being provided:

• Voluntary HIV testing to pregnant women.
• The Nevirapine drug to HIV positive pregnant women.
• Appropriate counselling and support for safe infant feeding practices.
• Follow-up care for mothers and their babies after delivery.

It is important to note that the quality and effectiveness of any PMTCT programme rests on the efficiency of the public health system as a whole and not just on the dedicated management of the PMTCT programme itself. The evaluation therefore makes recommendations regarding the improvement of the health system as well as the PMTCT programme.