Projects bring new hope for HIV, TB patients
DAR ES SALAAM: THE five-year projects of USAID Afya Yangu Southern and USAID Kizazi Hodari Southern have achieved significant success in assisting the government in addressing the challenges of HIV and tuberculosis in the southern regions.
The two projects are implemented by the Deloitte under the sponsorship of the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), through the coordination of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID),
Dr Marina Njelekela, Chief of Party of the USAID Afya Yangu Southern project, stated this at the 10th Tanzania Health Summit in Dar es Salaam over the weekend.
Dr Njelekela said the 102 million US dollar USAID Afya Yangu project aims to support the delivery of quality HIV and Tuberculosis (TB) services, including prevention, care, TB treatment and HIV antiretroviral therapy in six southern regions of Tanzania.
“The project supports approximately 1,409 health facilities in the regions of Iringa, Lindi, Morogoro, Mtwara, Njombe, and Ruvuma in providing services and testing for both communicable and non-communicable diseases, for the year 2022/23, 1.1 million people were tested for HIV/AIDS, with 48,000 of them testing positive for the virus,” she explained.
On the other hand, Chief of Party of the USAID Kizazi Hodari Southern, Ms Doroth Matoyo, said the five-year 28.5 million US dollar project aims to assist orphaned and vulnerable children living in high-risk environments who, in one way or another, have been affected by HIV.
It has so far reached more than 86,965 beneficiaries, including 56,527 women and 30,438 men, in 11 regions of mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.
On his part, Mr Carlton Jones, Director Advisory of Deloitte Tanzania, emphasised the importance of Tanzanians adhering to best health practices.
Earlier, Deloitte Tanzania Director of Results Management, Dr Moses Ringo, emphased the significance of using HIV antiretroviral drugs, highlighting that it was crucial in the fight against the disease.
“When a person uses medication to suppress the virus to below 50 copies in their blood, the likelihood of transmitting it to others decreases,” said Dr Ringo.
