Option B+ Toolkit: Expanding and Simplifying Treatment for Pregnant Women Living with HIV: Managing the Transition to Option B/B+

What is the toolkit?

The toolkit is a collection of assessment tools and checklists that describe the key considerations to be taken into account when transitioning to Option B/B+. The toolkit provides a roadmap to support the planning and implementation of Option B/B+, and to help countries scale up more effective interventions and programs to achieve the goals of the Global Plan Towards the Elimination of New HIV Infections among Children by 2015 and Keeping their Mothers Alive.

Programme implementers and policymakers can use the toolkit in its entirety or select from the 7 sections that address different programme components.

The toolkit is not intended to be exhaustive, but provides a critical step in presenting the various political, financial and programmatic factors to consider when implementing Option B/B+.

The toolkit is divided into seven key sections:

1. Option B/B+: Key Considerations for Country Programmes (UNICEF) is an overarching guidance document which lays out key issues for implementation.

2. Moving Toward Option B/B+: Readiness Assessment Checklist and Discussion Guide (PEPFAR/OGAC) is a comprehensive checklist for national programmes to review as they plan for implementation of Option B/B+. The checklist covers a large number of key programme areas from political commitment to early infant diagnosis, posing critical questions to be addressed as well as indicating minimum readiness standards for implementing Option B/B+.

3. Costing Tool describes the costing (FEWG) models that can be used to cost operational plans for Option B/B+ implementation including descriptions of programme inputs and outputs associated with each model.

4. Human Resources for Health (HRH Task Team) tool outlines key considerations around HR capacity and task-shifting as an essential component for successful implementation of Option B/B+.

5. Procurement and Supply Chain Management (SCMS Task Team) provides a list of key questions for the MOH to consider as they strengthen and adjust procurement and supply chain management systems to accommodate transition to Option B/B+, and includes links to resources and tools to assist with forecasting.

6. Enhanced Monitoring and Evaluation Systems (MEWG) provides an overview of concepts and questions to guide national discussion of M&E issues specific to Option B/B+ implementation, as well as quality assurance methods and a list of potential topics for operational research.

7. Community Engagement (CEWG): There are two tools on community engagement. The first consists of recommendations for Ministries of Health on involving communities in Option B/B+ planning and implementation discussions, while the second document is designed for civil society organisations to use in dialogue with the MOH to advocate for the rights of people living with HIV.