Samia launches ambitious plan to fight HIV/Aids

Dar es Salaam/Lindi. Tanzania’s fifth multisectoral strategic framework for HIV and Aids was launched yesterday by President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

Under the framework, Tanzania seeks to achieve “three zeros,” namely, zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination, and zero Aids-Related deaths, by 2026.

The global target is to achieve the three zeros by 2030.

“We have been in this fight for about 30 years. We have achieved a lot, although we still have a long journey ahead of us. So, more efforts are needed to end HIV/Aids as we are in a position to overcome the virus and thus attain ‘three zeros’ earlier than 2030, which is the global target,” President Hassan said.

She added that studies have shown that new infections among young people aged between 15 and 24 are on the rise and that more efforts should be made to reduce them, otherwise it would be virtually impossible to end HIV/Aids.

“If these young people are affected now, they will be provided with all the medical attention they need, which includes prescribing them with antiretrovirals, but our quest to end HIV/Aids will be tougher.”

“We need to put in more effort by creating awareness. Let’s campaign by providing them with skills to reduce new infections. Let’s work together as we have been doing and make some notable achievements,” the Head of State said.

In order for the country to achieve its National Multisectoral Strategic Framework for HIV and Aids, President Hassan directed all the relevant ministries, the Tanzania Commission for Aids (Tacaids), and other stakeholders to work together in implementing the scheme.

“The strategy is multisectoral, so we should work together and ensure that there are no more infections. We should strengthen our capacity in HIV testing as well as the proper use of medication and thus stop HIV/Aids-related deaths and have plans in place that will eliminate stigma against the affected individuals,” she added.

Earlier, Ms Winnie Byanyima, Unaids executive director and UN undersecretary, commended Tanzania, saying the country is a leader in the fight against HIV/Aids.

“In the last 12 years, Tanzania has been able to reduce new infections by almost 50 percent and prevent deaths by 50 percent, which is remarkable progress. The country’s new generation has no idea what Aids looks like because Tanzania has managed to put 80 percent of HIV patients on treatment,” she said.

On the other hand, Ms Byanyima said although world leaders have promised to end Aids by 2030, this is difficult due to inequalities, but the good news is that if countries decide to focus on reducing them, then the road to eliminating the disease is clear.

“First, we have to equalise for girls and women to reduce their higher risk of HIV, as they are three times more likely to be infected with HIV than boys and men of the same age. In fact, out of four people who are infected, three are girls or women. That’s an inequality,” she said.

“In Tanzania, we estimated that 54,000 were infected last year. Those aged 14-24 made up about 30 percent, with 74 percent being girls or young women, so we have a problem there, but we know the solution - education, which is a powerful equalizer.”

For his part, Health Deputy Minister Godwin Mollel said, “Tanzania is estimated to have 1.7 million people living with HIV, 1.5 million have been reached. By 2026, the ministry aims to have attained the “three 95s,” meaning “reaching 95 percent of people living with HIV, dispensing medicines to 95 percent of them, and curbing infections by 95 percent.”