Call: People living with HIV should be involved in policymaking
MOROGORO: PEOPLE living with HIV should be actively involved in policymaking to ensure their experiences are reflected, making policies more culturally sensitive and impactful for those directly affected.
The Director General of the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), Professor Said Aboud, made the emphasis during the official opening of a high-level policy dialogue meeting on Monday.
The meeting aimed to strengthen HIV interventions in Tanzania, focusing on translating key research findings into policies that drive change, inform decision-making and shape best practices for controlling the HIV epidemic.
Prof Aboud reaffirmed NIMR’s commitment to leveraging research to shape policies, improve practices and enhance health outcomes nationwide.
“Today’s policy dialogue is not just about discussing research findings,” he said, adding, “We are forging a path toward actionable solutions that address the complex challenges of HIV and AIDS in Tanzania.” He noted that by integrating innovative strategies and fostering collaboration between researchers, policymakers and communities, the goal is to create policies that reflect the realities of people living with HIV.
He urged policymakers to base their decisions on scientific evidence from local research to ensure that new policies and services are tailored to the needs of Tanzanians.
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Prof Aboud highlighted the UNAIDS 95-95-95 goals as a guiding framework for the country’s efforts, aiming for a percentage of people living with HIV to know their status, 95 per cent of those diagnosed to receive treatment and 95 per cent of those on treatment to achieve viral suppression.
He stressed the importance of aligning national policies with these global benchmarks, emphasising that strong political will is critical to achieving these goals.
Recognising that HIV and AIDS are intricately connected to broader societal issues, Prof Aboud called for policies that address the social determinants of health.
He identified poverty, gender inequality and limited access to education as major drivers of HIV transmission, particularly among high-risk populations such as women and adolescents.
“Policies must not only treat HIV as a medical issue but also focus on reducing these vulnerabilities,” he said.
Principal Research Scientist at NIMR, Dr Elizabeth Shayo, echoed the importance of using research evidence to improve health policies and service delivery across the country.
“Our goal is to ensure that research findings are not only published but are also translated into tangible policy changes that benefit the people,” she explained.
