THE USAID funded Afya Yangu Southern project has consistently registered remarkable success since its launch in enhancing the health of people living with HIV Aids, it has been revealed in Morogoro Region during the weekend.
Speaking to a delegation from USAID funded projects, Afya Yangu and Kizazi Hodari, who visited care and treatment centres implementing the initiative in Morogoro and Iringa, Morogoro Medical Officer (RMO), Dr Kusirye Ukio, said one of the key achievements of the initiative is to enable people living with HIV -Aids to understand their status.
“The project has ensured that those who are aware of their HIV-Aids status are enlisted in designated treatment and care Centres, and at the same time given access to drugs that significantly lower their viral load and so prevent person to person infection,” said Dr Ukio.
Speaking during the tour, Deloitte Tanzania Director of Consulting, Carlton Jones which is the implementing agency for USAID Afya Yangu Southern and USAID Kizazi Hodari said they were contented to partner with the government of Tanzania towards improving lives in six regions in the southern zone, namely, Lindi, Mtwara, Ruvuma, Iringa and Morogoro.
“Deloitte has been partnering with the government of Tanzania for over 16 years in various projects, like Tunajali, Tunajali II, Boresha Afya, Mwanzo Bora and currently Afya Yangu and Kizazi Hodari, during our tour, we have visited treatment and care centers of Sabasaba and Mafiga in Morogoro Region and Mafinga in Iringa, where we donated a vehicle that will help to improve the lives of Tanzanians,” said the Deloitte chief.
On her part, the USAID Afya Yangu Southern Director, Dr Merina Njelekela, said they have established 676 centers in the regions that give treatment aimed at curbing the ferocity of the Aids virus and also treat tuberculosis, conduct reproductive health services and screening of uterine cancer for women.
“I call upon all Tanzanians who have tested positive for HIV and those who have not to visit the centers and get advice and also understand their status and for those who are positive to get treatment that stems infectiousness of the Aids virus, all the services are provided free,” said Dr Njelekela.
Speaking at the event, the USAID Kizazi Hodari Southern Zone Director, Doroth Matoyo said that the project, which is engaged in supporting children living under vulnerable conditions, especially those who have been affected by HIV Aids.
She said the project has succeeded to a great extent in Ruvuma region despite being launched there in September this year.
“In a duration of three months we have been able to reach out to 27,750 beneficiaries in the region and integrate them in the Kizazi Hodari to enable them get various services like school items, food, and after screening some 1370 children were established to be HIV positive and were linked to various centers in Ruvuma region to access health services,” said Doroth.
Receiving a donated vehicle, Mafinga District Commissioner, Saad Mtambule commended the USAID Afya Yangu Southern project for staying in the forefront in supporting Mafinga and Mufindi district councils in Iringa Region to face up to nagging health challenges.
One of the people living with HIV Aids who is a regular client at the Mafinga Health Centre which is under USAID Afya Yangu, called on Tanzanians who are living with HIV Aids to use drugs properly and adhere to advise from physicians, adding that testing positive did not mark the end of life.
“Immediately after I was diagnosed with HIV in 2006 and at a time which my health had deteriorated drastically, I started taking ARVs with my CD4 reading at 12, after a time it rose up to 81, and by the end of 2016 my CD4 was 1016, when one uses drugs properly, they can live well, and now I have a spouse who has the same status as mine and we enjoy life,” said the person living with HIV Aids.
The five-year Afya Yangu project, that has a budget of 102 million US dollars, started in November 2021 and will end in November 2026.
The project focuses on giving treatment and counselling services to people living with HIV aids and those suffering from TB, to enhance the skills of health workers through training, construction and innovation of treatment and counseling centres, provision of working equipment like computers, TVs, public address systems, furniture, and boost allowances for care givers.
