THE government has urged the public to remain vigilant in the fight against HIV, calling for responsible behaviour and strict adherence to expert guidance as part of renewed national efforts to curb the spread of the virus.

William Lukuvi, the Policy, Coordination, Parliamentary Affairs and the Disabled state minister in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), issued this appeal at a press conference marking World AIDS Day in Dar es Salaam yesterday.

He used the briefing to share updated information on the state of HIV in the country, while extending support for President Samia Suluhu Hassan in the directive to minimise government expenditure.

Containing the spread of HIV requires personal responsibility, including following medical advice and avoiding risky behaviours that undermine prevention efforts, he said, noting that the majority remain safe, but people should take the necessary steps to avoid new infections.

The government seeks to ensure that HIV testing and medication are accessible across the country and that HIV and AIDS services remain free.

A 2022 national report indicated that 1.7m people were living with HIV in Tanzania, an increase in HIV-related care centres from 7,805 in the previous year to 8,203, a milestone in the fight against the epidemic, he stated, similarly instructing regional and district HIV committees to use the occasion to intensify public education initiatives nationwide.

Prof Riziki Shemdoe, his Regional Administration and Local Governments counterpart, hinted at the creation of a new government fund dedicated to HIV control, as the government is working to ensure that HIV-related services reach all local government authorities, to eliminate the public health threat status of the disease by 2030.

Florence Samizi, the Health deputy minister, outlined measures being implemented to strengthen the country’s HIV response, like improving testing for HIV and sexually transmitted infections, reducing mother-to-child transmission, while expanding public education and preventive programs.

Despite a decline in external aid, the government has allocated 186bn/- from domestic revenues to sustain HIV services, she said, assuring the public that available medication and supplies are sufficient to meet national needs for a whole year.

Leticia Kapela, the National Council of People Living with HIV and AIDS (NACOPHA) chairperson, applauded government efforts to improve services for people living with HIV, reaffirming the NGO’s commitment to working with the government to ensure that services remain accessible, safe and of high quality.

She appealed to the public authorities to adopt a drug recently approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO), as well as inclusion of preventive services such as PrEP in health insurance packages to ease financial burdens "PrEP" is an acronym for pre-exposure prophylaxis, namely the use of antiretroviral medication by people who are HIV-negative to prevent HIV infection. It is a highly effective prevention method when taken as prescribed, an online entry asserts. 

Dr Samuel Sumba, the Tanzania Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS) acting director general, said that Tanzania has made significant progress in the fight against HIV, with roughly 1.5m people currently living with the virus.

Strategies designed to ensure HIV does not become a socioeconomic burden are being implemented, while government funding for TACAIDS was increased to address resource shortages, he stated.

Dr Jim Yonazi, the PMO permanent secretary, pointed at the importance of evaluating the impact of HIV and AIDS interventions to strengthen coordinated national efforts to sustain progress.