English |

This document describes the key elements and principles of the district approach, including how implementation of this approach can be supported through a series of specific steps. Key elements of the district approach include building technical capacity at the district level, ensuring financial sustainability of programme activities, and creating mechanisms for ongoing supportive supervision and monitoring. Suggestions are also provided on how to monitor the impact of such an approach and how to embark on the next steps beyond initial implementation. The informa- tion presented is based on in-depth consultations with government officials, EGPAF staff, public health specialists, and PMTCT service providers and clients in select districts, with the aim of helping others to employ a decentralized approach to the rapid scale-up of PMTCT services in Tanzania and beyond.This document is geared toward a broad audience ranging from govern- ment health officials, public health specialists and nongovernmental organization programme managers, to health services providers and community-based AIDS service organizations.