Tanzania: HIV to drop thanks to 2008 Act

  1. Posted on Tuesday 24 March 2009 - 21:58
    deo
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    Deo Simba, VoicesofAfrica mobile reporter in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
    In efforts to control HIV and AIDS, Tanzania in 2008 passed an important law that will guide issues related to HIV and AIDS. Current statistics in the country rate male transmission at 5.6% and that of women at 6.6%.
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    These rates are still high. Now that the law is in force, the expectation is that transmission rates will drop for both men and women. At the same time, awareness on HIV and AIDS keeps growing, with the national average being set at 77%. Many more people now are aware of HIV and AIDS compared to the general understanding 15 years back.

    Discrimination is still a challenge, but with the new law there is a great possibility that stigma related behaviours will be reduced if not controlled once and for all. The government, through the Tanzania Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS) has been making efforts to ensure that anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) are readily available in all government district hospitals.

    This is another big step forward as it helps to encourage more people to go for check up in order to know their health status and take the bold step of protecting themselves and others. There are still challenges ahead, but the general atmosphere looks optimistic that things will change for the better.

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