In the United Republic of Tanzania, new HIV infections declined by 18% between 2010 and 2016, falling to an estimated 55 000 new HIV infections in 2016. While this is steady progress, the country needs to do more to stop new HIV infections, particularly among adolescent girls and young women, who accounted for an estimated 18 000 new HIV infections in 2016, and among populations at higher risk of HIV. In 2016, there were more AIDS-related deaths among adult men than women, pointing to the need to reach men with HIV testing and treatment services.
During a visit to mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar, the Executive Director of UNAIDS, Michel Sidibé, called on the government and civil society to spearhead the implementation of the recently launched HIV Prevention 2020 Road Map. If implemented, the road map will Fast-Track progress to reduce new HIV infections globally by 75%—from 2.2 million in 2010 to 500 000 by 2020.
During his visit, Mr Sidibé met with the President of Zanzibar as well as a number of ministers and senior government officials in both mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. He congratulated the United Republic of Tanzania on its commitment to achieve the Fast-Track Targets by 2020. He added that in order to reach those targets, the United Republic of Tanzania will need to prioritize HIV prevention strategies to dramatically reduce new HIV infections. He emphasized the importance of leaving no one behind in access to health and HIV services, including key and vulnerable populations.
During his meeting with the President of Zanzibar, Ali Mohamed Shein, Mr Sidibé encouraged the President to achieve the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV by 2020, which is well within reach in both mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.
Mr Sidibé also met with civil society organizations during his visit. Civil society play a critical role in responding to HIV in the United Republic of Tanzania, serving on the board of the national AIDS council and ensuring that the AIDS response is multisectoral, inclusive of people living with HIV and reaches people at higher risk of HIV infection.
Mr Sidibé emphasized civil society’s important role in strengthening community responses to HIV and made a call to ensure that its work is integrated into national HIV responses and adequately funded through domestic and international investments.
On 10 October 2017, UNAIDS, UNFPA and partners launched the HIV prevention 2020 road map as part of efforts to reduce new HIV infections by 75% by 2020.
“I am pleased with the progress thus far. HIV infections are being reduced, but we need to sustain the gains. We are committed to the African Union global solidarity and shared responsibility agenda.”
Ali Mohamed Shein President of Zanzibar
“The challenges to ending AIDS here are similar to those in many other places—being able to reach the people most affected by HIV and ensuring they have access to HIV prevention, testing and treatment services.”
Michel Sidibé UNAIDS Executive Director
“Being part of the Zanzibar Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS gives me a home to interact with my peers and discuss common challenges, the ability to gain skills and an opportunity to speak on behalf of my community at a high level, both nationally and internationally.”
Young person living with HIV Zanzibar Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS
