Country Overview

Mozambique is widely hailed as an emerging model of effective logistics management and coordination.

In Mozambique, roughly 1.8 million adults and children are living with HIV/AIDS. Of this number, about 99,000 are currently receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART). The government hopes to more than double this number to 215,000 by 2010.

Mozambique is widely hailed as an emerging model of effective logistics management and coordination. Donors are well coordinated and active. The public sector drives the national HIV/AIDS program and has complete ownership of national distribution systems. A single entity, the Central Medical Stores (CMAM), has visibility across the entire logistics system. Still, challenges remain. Among the most critical needs are enabling CMAM to effectively meet its goals and addressing the challenges created by rapid scale-up of treatment sites.

SCMS supports the government’s goals with a focus on improving information sharing, building capacity, enhancing procurement and distribution, and improving laboratory logistics.

Key Objectives

• Improving information sharing: SCMS is working to improve the coordination of data between central and provincial levels and departments of CMAM, reinforced by providing training to CMAM on how to use the data to drive effective decision-making.
• Building capacity: We are working to build forecasting, procurement and logistics experience and expertise at the central and facility levels.
• Enhancing procurement and distribution: Rapid scale-up of treatment sites has created challenges in procurement and distribution. SCMS is conducting activities to improve the ability of warehouses to meet the needs created by the public sector's scale-up plan.
• Improving laboratory logistics: SCMS is focusing on identifying and building processes to coordinate and share laboratory supply information while improving forecasting and procurement.

Activities and Impact

Value of commodities delivered as of December 2008: $19.8 million 

Demand planning: SCMS has provided training in supply chain monitoring and procurement planning for 23 participants from Mozambique's Ministry of Health (MOH) and other partners, including the Association of Public Health Laboratories, the Clinton Foundation, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Training participants learned to use forecasting computer software to analyze data and generate reports for monitoring stock. SCMS and MOH staff trained in forecasting software have used the tool to update the country's supply plan for ARVs.

As a result, orders for medicines no longer part of the standard treatment guidelines were cancelled and orders for more rapidly consumed medicines were increased. The exercise also helped SCMS coordinate with the MOH and Clinton Foundation to phase in the supply of ARVs to be donated by UNITAID to the national program. SCMS, the MOH and other partners are now using forecasting software to improve supply planning for rapid HIV test kits to prevent shortages or overstocks. Ensuring a reliable supply of tests is crucial for Mozambicans to determine their HIV status, providing an entry point to HIV/AIDS care and treatment.