Tanzania Country Presentation: Reinforcing Legal Frameworks to Protect Vulnerable Groups

1
Tanzania Country Presentation Reinforcing Legal
Frameworks to Protect Vulnerable Groups

• Regional Videoconference Addressing Stigma and
  Discrimination of HIV/AIDS in Africa
• Dar-es-Salaam
• Tanzania
• April 2, 2009

2
1. Country Context and Status
3
Trends

• Prevalence rates reducing
• Before 2003, women of young ages and men of older
  ages more likely to be HIV positive, - this is
  changing
• Peak age between 30 39 years
• Prevalence varies considerably according to
  region and between urban and rural areas (from
  1.5 to 15.7)

4
Policy Framework for Responding to Stigma and
Discrimination

• The Constitution of Republic of Tanzania of 1977
• The National Policy on HIVAIDS (2001)
• The HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act
  2008
• Sector tools Workplace HIV and AIDS Policies
• Other national/institutional guidelines
• National Multisectoral Strategic Framework
  2008-2012,
• Health Sector HIV and AIDS Strategy,
• HBC VCT Guidelines,
• National Guide on Stigma Discrimination
  Reduction in HIV Programs

5
The HIV/ AIDS Act

• Based on
• 2001, National Policy on HIV/AIDS.
• guiding the fight against HIV AIDS
• Key elements
• involvement of different sectors
• Ethics and Regulations re testing
• Rights and Care for PLHA
• Formulation of laws
• Study, reviewing laws re HIV AIDS
• T

6
Tanzania, HIV /AIDS Act

• To develop a system aiming at
• reducing, preventing, controlling and protecting
  the rights of people infected with HIV
• Covering issues such as
• National HIV policy
• Multisectoral responsibilities
• Counseling (prepost),
• Confidentiality,
• Basic health social service,
• Discrimination Stigmatization,
• Rights of PLHIV,

7
Process of developing the Act

• Zonal Meetings
• Consolidation of inputs from the Zonal Meetings
• Drafting of Bill
• First reading, Parliament
• Bill passed by the Parliament, Feb. 2008
• President assented the Bill to become Law in
  2008.

8
Programs and Interventions to address Stigma and
Discrimination

• Kimara Peer Educators, key NGO in fight against
  stigma
• Involvement in original ICRW research re stigma
  and discrimination
• Involvement in development of Understanding and
  Challenging Stigma Toolkit and 2 chapters
  related to youth and children and training
• edutainment activities
• outreach to local community leaders
• technical support to other organisations
  integrate stigma and discrimination programming
  into ongoing responsibilities

9
Greater involvement of people living with HIV/AIDS

• PLHIV in Decision Policy Making
• National Treatment Plan Committee,
• National Home Based Care Committee and,
• Tanzania Commission for AIDS
• Council Multi-sectorial AIDS Control Committees
• PLHIV, in service delivery
• As counselors
• Home Based Care Experts.
• Post Test Clubs

10
Stigma adds to the trauma experienced by
children affected by AIDS

• Three strategic approaches, Pact Tanzania
• Training of 4,000 local, religious leaders,
  service providers, community volunteers using
• 2 additional chapters, AIDS Allliance
  Challenging and addressing stigma toolkit
• Hip hop artistes, anti-stigma songs on CD and
  DVD, launched in live concerts, with radio and TV
• Use of high profile and influential Anti-stigma
  champions, Mama Kikwete, wife of the President of
  Tanzania

11
Achievements and Successes, involvement PLHIV

• Greater recognition, needs
• meaningful involvement -
• Change of attitude of Health Service Providers
• Attracting more Public and Private Institutions
  to implement the GIPA principle
• Attract greater donor response to Prevention,
  Care Treatment Support,
• Positive influence to decision making

12
Achievements and successes contd

• Involvement in original research, ICRW, findings
  available
• Influential leaders
• the President and First Lady, tested
• First Lady and US Ambassadors wife, Anti-stigma
  Champions
• Africas First Ladies Initiative against HIV/AIDS
• Media sensitisation to issues
• Community leaders trained
• Edutainment eg hip hop music

13
Key Lessons Learned

• Comprehensive HIV response needed
• Stigma and discrimination programs should not be
  stand alone but should be part of existing
  program
• Training works
• Need to involve community leaders
• Involvement of PLHIV in HIV and AIDS Programming
• Partnership essential - local leaders,
  government, research institutions, beneficiaries,
  donors etc

14
The Way Forward

• Strengthen networking of PLHIVs
• Continue to work with influential national, local
  and religious leaders
• Continue to disseminate anti-stigma messages via
  the media and edutainment
• Evaluate current interventions, develop
  indicators and improved ME system, addressing
  stigma and discrimination
• In relation to the law
• Regulations Guidelines, supporting
  implementation of the Law
• Popularize and disseminate the Act
• Continue to address all forms of stigma and
  discrimination in Tanzania

15
Hip hop artistes, Anti-stigma champions and
Training