In December 2014, a delegation of Tanzanian officials visited South Africa and SANAC to identify best practices that could be implemented as part of their country’s HIV response.
The delegation was led by Mrs. Regina Kikuli, Deputy Permanent Secretary, from the Prime Minister’s Office, accompanied by Lediana Mng’ong’o (MP), Neema Mgaya Hamedi (MP), Mwanamrisho Abama (MP), Tanzanian Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS) Executive Chairman, Dr Fatma Mrisho, and TACAIDS management team members, Ms Beng’I Issa and Ms Elizabeth Kaganda.
Established in 2001 under the office of the Prime Minister, TACAIDS coordinates the Tanzanian HIV response by providing strategic leadership, resource mobilisation, advocacy, and monitoring and evaluation.
The delegation met with SANAC’s management team to discuss best practices they had identified, such as the South African government’s participation in the implementation of the comprehensive care and treatment programme, as well as its involvement in monitoring funding and the inter-ministerial committee on AIDS. They were also particularly interested in SANAC’s work with human rights NGOs to measure and end stigma and discrimination and the efforts put in place to provide people living with HIV with legal support when faced with discrimination.
Another aspect of TACAIDS’ mandate is to foster partnerships with the private sector. The delegation met with AngloGold Ashanti, a mining company whose HIV programme succeeded in reducing TB and HIV rates among its workers by 60% and 50% respectively between 2004 and 2013. The health of all AngloGold Ashanti employees is monitored via a wellness centre throughout their time with the company.
The delegation also met with the UNAIDS Country Team, PEPFAR in South Africa, and the chairperson of the Global Fund’s Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM).
In Tanzania, 1.6 million people – approximately six percent of the population – are living with HIV. Country ownership of its response, and a reduction of dependency on donors are priorities for TACAIDS.
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TACAIDS meets UNAIDS staff (above left) and right, discussions at SANAC offices.
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