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EFFECTIVE and consistent condom programming for reduction of new HIV infections has been cited as one of the challenges Tanzania face in the implementation of the National Multisectoral HIV Prevention strategy 2009/2012.
Speaking at the UN joint Mission to Tanzania meeting that involved
representatives from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) recently, Dr. Subilaga Kasesela-Kaganda from the Tanzania Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS) said effective condoms programming posed a challenge.
She said that HIV prevention strategy for the Tanzania Mainland
was still important and valid because there were still many cases
of new HIV infections to the tune of 130,000 annually, exceeding by
far both the AIDS related deaths and peoples’ enrolment into AIDS
care.
“The low capacity in terms of skills and numbers in designing
interventions that address the drivers of the epidemic and behavior
change is also a challenge” she added. In implementing the strategy,
Dr. Kasesela, who is also the Chairperson of HIV Prevention
Technical Working Committee said that there was a need to continue
disseminating it to all stakeholders including the remaining
10 regions where it has not yet been disseminated, and identify
ways of addressing HIV issues into the specific groups.
She said that the specific groups are known to be greater
contributors to the epidemic but legal/policy framework hampered
reaching them with HIV prevention information and services.
In the specific group are commercial sex workers, Injecting
drug users, men who have sex with men as well as those practicing
anal sex.
During discussion, Tanzania was advised to consider repackaging
and add flavor to her current public sector condoms being distributed to the users with view to increase their uptake and use in the country. The advice came from one of participant and guest from the UN joint Mission to Tanzania.
The mission drew delegates from HIV Regional Advisors such as the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
(UNAIDS).
During the meeting, the delegates wanted to know how Tanzania
was promoting the use of Condoms as one way of reducing
new infections in the country. Giving the explanation of the
state of condom uptake in the country Dr. Chilanga Asmani
from UNFPA said the distribution system was not good and asked an
official from the Population Services International (PSI) a not-forprofit institution dealing directly dealing with condoms marketing to brief the meeting.
The PSI official said the uptake of condoms in the country varied
from region to region, as well as type of condom in question. He
said that experience has shown that people preferred socially
marketed condoms than the freely given public sector condoms.
“The public sector condoms were not well packed; not branded, which, to a great extent accounts for low uptake of condoms in most part of the country” he said.
An advice from Ugandan participant suggested that it was possible
to increase condoms uptake, by repackage and change colours
of the public sector condoms with view to add value.
“In Uganda, repackaging, adding clolour and other flavors had
helped to increase condom uptake and Tanzania could thing doing
the same” one delegate said. However, the idea to repackage
and branding of the public sector condoms was down played after
realizing it was expensive and instead advised to go for mass mobilization of condom use which has proved successful in many
countries of East Asia of India and Thailand.
Source: AIDS WEEK, Perege Gumbo