US pledges support to curb HIV spread in universities

Dr John Nkengasong, who is the official responsible for overseeing US-sponsored humanitarian aid programmes to combat the Aids epidemic around the world, has been in Tanzania along with other global health response partners.

During the visit, Dr Nkengasong, along with the Global Fund Executive Director, Peter Sands, and the UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director, Angeli Achrekar, have been meeting with representatives of networks and community groups of people living with HIV, including young people from high learning institutions.

When he visited Nacopha’s offices on Tuesday, he was informed that there had been great success in preventing more infections in adults and that the biggest challenge remained among youths.

As such, their new strategy targets ensuring that proper education reaches the group in abundance.

Having engaged and listened to young people from higher learning institutions and Treatment Advocates involved in HIV service who aired out their different perspectives and insights to shape future efforts in HIV service delivery, Dr Nkengasong said his office will continue to support them as it always has.

“We have heard your suggestions and received them. We need young people who will be on the front line to help us completely end this epidemic, which we have managed to reduce to a large extent,” he said.

A number of daunting challenges face universities in Tanzania in designing and implementing effective responses to HIV/AIDS. They include little knowledge about the vulnerability, prevalence, impact, and situation of HIV/AIDS in the institutions. Experts are worried that there have also been growing infection rates among adolescents.

Research has shown that the highest group found to be infected with the virus is the age group of 15 to 24. This high-risk adolescent group accounts for 60 percent of all new infections in many countries.

“We have been very successful in reaching adults in our HIV education campaigns. But we have realised that there is still a gap on the part of young people in higher learning institutions; this is where we are now directing our strategies,” said Mr Deogratius Rutatwa, CEO of Nacopha.

He noted that they have already been able to engage a number of university students who will be ambassadors along with the community of youths living with HIV infection across the country.

“We will officially launch this programme in September of this year. That is where we want to direct our energy and resources because reports have indicated dire situations, thus the need for HIV education,” he noted.

Ms Pudensia Mbwiliza, chairperson of the Network of Young People Living with HIV and AIDS in Tanzania (NYP+), said many young people still continue to have careless sex, and do not conduct regular health check-ups.

“Many do not have this education, or they just ignore the use of preventive measures. In this situation, you find that the person with the infection isn’t aware, and the other also has no fear. However, this education strategy, we believe, will help a lot," he said.