PATH’s nevirapine infant-dose pouch provides health workers with a way to improve women’s access to nevirapine, an antiretroviral drug that can prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV. During a recent field evaluation in Kenya, the response among mothers, providers, and facility managers was positive, and the Ministry of Health in Kenya plans to introduce the pouch country-wide by the end of 2006.  Beginning in October of 2007, Boehringer Ingelheim will be donating the pouch as a component of its Viramune® Donation Program.

PATH has developed the following resources to support organizations considering introduction of the nevirapine pouch in prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) programs. These materials are intended for use and adaptation by programs in low-resource settings.

Introducing the nevirapine pouch

• Sourcing Guide: The Nevirapine Infant-Dose Pouch for Use in Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS Programs
  This is a guide for sourcing the nevirapine infant-dose pouch. (PATH is not a manufacturer or supplier of the pouch.)
• Packaging Solutions for Nevirapine
  This fact sheet describes PATH’s work to improve packaging of nevirapine for PMTCT programs.
• A Pilot Introduction of the Nevirapine Infant-Dose Pouch in Kenya in PMTCT Programs
  This fact sheet summarizes the pilot introduction conducted by PATH in collaboration with the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS foundation and the National HIV/AIDS Control Program of Kenya in 2006.

Training health workers on nevirapine pouch use

• Training Manual: Guide for Training Providers on Packaging Nevirapine Oral Suspension Using the Nevirapine Infant-Dose Pouch
  This manual assists programs in training staff for the introduction of the nevirapine infant-dose pouch into PMTCT programs; it is intended for adaptation based on individual program needs.
• Instructions for Health Workers: Nevirapine Infant-Dose Pouch
  This job aid provides a quick reference for providers using the pouch.

Nevirapine pouch labels

PATH has designed labels for the nevirapine pouch that give instructions for handling and administering the medication and include a place for health workers to record the expiration date. The templates (Adobe Acrobat PDF) can be used to manually print these labels onto full page/sheet adhesive label stock. Four labels will print per 8.5-by-11-inch or A4 sheet of adhesive label stock.

These labels are intended for adaptation and are also available as EPS files. Requests for this file should be sent to Adriane Berman at PATH (aberman@path.org).

Availability

The nevirapine infant-dose pouch is now available at no cost to PMTCT programs participating in the PMTCT Donations Programme. For more information on this program, visit the PMTCT Donations Program website.