Tanzanian team. Editor s Note Tanzania is now witness to unprecedented. Big up to Tanzania s anti-stigma law! Issue No. 011 April. 8- April.

Transcription

1 Issue No. 011 April. 8- April Association of Journalist Against AIDS in Tanzania (AJAAT) P.O.Box Tel: , Bahari Motors Building, Kameroun Road Plot No. 43. Kijitonyama Supported by UNDP/UNAids Big up to Tanzania s anti-stigma law! Tanzanian team that participated at the first regional videoconference on stigma and discrimination of HIV/ AIDS in Africa impressed other six countries on how it developed a law to curb the issue. The team led by Dr. Calista Simbakalia outlined steps taken through participatory approach to enact the law, The HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act, 2008, which strictly prohibits stigma and discrimination on HIV/ AIDS. According to the presentation made by Dr. Subilaga Kaganda on behalf of Tanzania, the law was enacted on the basis of the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania of 1977, The National Policy on HIV/AIDS of 2001, Workplace HIV and AIDS policies and other national or institutional guidelines like the National Guide on Stigma and Discrimination Reduction in HIV/AIDS Programs. She said the participatory approach in developing the law included holding stakeholders meetings at district, regional, zonal and national levels for consolidations of inputs. Then followed the drafting of the Bill which was passed by the Parliament in February 2008 and the President assented to it to become a law in May Responding to questions from other countries participants (Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Zambia and South Africa), another lawyer, Magdalena Rwebangira said everything regarding the law was, actually, moving in a right direction. What remains is making regulations and guidelines, supporting implementation of the law, popularize and disseminate it by continuing to address all forms of stigma and discrimination through various means particularly media, said Rwebangira. SOURCE: AIDSWEEK Editor s Note Tanzania is now witness to unprecedented increase of orphans and children living in vulnerable conditions as a result of several factors, including stigma and discrimination against children living with, or born to, parents who live with HIV/ AIDS; or due to entrenched poverty which threatens the extended family structures traditionally operating as social welfare system for children, the elderly and those living with serious physical or mental disabilities. While the government has a policy wish that OVCs stay within their communities and get assistance from their neighbourhood, the situation on the ground indicates that this wish is far from being achievable. OVCs have become direct victims of rape, or having their property left behind by their parents appropriated by other members of their communities, beaten up or turned into domestic hands instead of being sent to school. The society s moral fabric regarding the rights of orphans being guaranteed has been broken and is irreparable. Poverty is immense and the number of children requiring orphanage service or surrogate parentage is increasing in a faster pace both in rural and urban areas. Poor parents/ guardians, cannot cope up with the increase. Moreover, orphans and other vulnerable minors do not only need food and clothing. They require accessible and consistent counseling services as they move to new situations and new families; they need Minister of Community development, gender and children affairs, Margret Sitta (3rd from right, Continue on Page 2 seated) in group photo with Hon. MPs and development partners responsible for the rights of orphans and vulnerable children A recognized strong media association in and out the country that can bring about enhanced and effective HIV and AIDS media coverage and contribute to a reduction of the spread of HIV in Tanzania 1

2 2 Govt move to protect children s rights The Government is working on children laws with the view to protect their rights, Minister for Community Development, Gender and Children, Magreth Sitta said in Dar es Salaam on recently. She said the move seeks to protect children in risky environment, including natural causes, communities or by their parents. She was opening a oneday workshop on Vulnerable Children and Orphans for Parliamentarians. It was also attended by representatives of the United Nations Children s Fund (UNICEF) and the Association of European Parliamentarians for Africa (AWEPA). She said that various surveys conducted in the country had indicated that in recent years, there had been an enormous increase in the number of street children and that most of those were subjected to such life by their own parents. Researchers have released what they say is the most detailed global map of malaria ever compiled, allowing health and disease experts to monitor the success or otherwise of malaria control programs. Published in the open-access PLoS journal, the researchers say the map can also provide indications of where the elimination of malaria is technically possible. The maps, which show that nearly 1 billion of the 2.4 billion people at Sitta said the government had failed to effectively help the children in question as there were no laws directing on which measures should be taken in dealing with such matters. Even myself I was told of a woman who has been in the streets of Dar es Salaam with her four children whom she uses as a bait to earn cash from the passersby. But I did nothing because there are no laws to take such women to task, she said. The Minister challenged the workshop participants to discuss on what should be done to prevent the alarming number of orphans and street children instead of focusing solely on dealing with the outcomes of the problem. The Minister condemned the selfishness attitude by parents saying that they had been thinking of themselves more than the life of their children especially during divorce or separation. She said that the new law would also take care of how to deal with such parents in order to reduce the number of street children in the country. Earlier, the Chairperson of Parliamentary Committee on HIV/AIDS, Lediana Mng ong o, said that statistics indicated that the country had over 2.5 million orphans and most of those were living in risky environment. She said that the situation called for critical review on the existing policies and legislations to take care of such problem. The Executive Director of Tanzania Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS), Dr Fatma Mrisho, said that there were indicators that HIV/AIDS prevalence was going down in the country, but cautioned that orphans may keep on increasing. She said that HIV/AIDS was one of the causes of orphans and street children. SOURCE: Daily News Mapping the world s malaria epidemic risk of infection with the deadliest form of malaria live in low risk areas where the disease could be eliminated using modest control measures such as bed nets and treatments, will be updated annually, Nature reports. One of the most significant advances is that the program allows people to download maps of any country to check the sub-national geographical distribution, the researchers said. SOURCE: Journalist to Journalist website Editor s Note Continue from Page 1 emotional support and assurance that their will go on with their education. For children living with HIV, their needs are also immense, nutritious food and access to life saving medicines and treatments, let alone ARS; they need to fight stigma and discrimination and community support in that; they need education and skills training. Indeed, all these cannot be guaranteed by guardians who take the children over children s guardianship from their deceased parents. While we may call for continued individual contribution to the effort to help the OVCs, indeed, as nation, we need to go back to our policy drawing boards; study the policies and programmes already at work, study the strategies we use to curb HIV; study efforts we extend to OVCs. We need to see whether there is something wrong with everything we do; but one thing one can be sure of is the fact that there is earnest seriousness in tackling the problem; our words far outsmart our deed! Weekly quotable quote!! In particular, let us not forget the importance of peer pressure in the decision making process of a youth. If we want to change HIV transmission and pregnancy rates, we should first understand these pressures and enable youth to deal with them and resist them. says Dr. Soori Nnko, Social Scientist at NIMR, Mwanza.

3 Akizungumza mbele ya Kamati ya Maendeleo ya Jamii inayoshughulikia UKIMWI, Bungeni hivi karibuni, kijana Julius Sosovele, ameiomba serikali ifikirie uwezekano wa kuwasomesha yatima bila masharti yoyote. Julius aliyeibuliwa kijijini kwao Iringa akiwa hana mbele wala nyuma kimaisha aliiomba bodi ya mikopo kuwapa kipaumbele watoto wenye hali kama yake ili kuwasaidia kuendelea na masomo kwa kuwa hawana wazazi wala uwezo. Alisema msaada kama huo unahitajika sana ili kuwasaidia yatima kuweza kujikwamua na ujinga pamoja na umasikini mbavyo vimekuwa sehemu ya maisha yao. Yatima huyo alieleza hali iliyopo sasa ya ongezeko la watoto yatima na walio katika mazingira magumu. Julius Bodi ya mikopo itoe upendeleo kwa yatima, watoto waishio katika mazingira magumu- ombi Msaada kama huo unahitajika sana ili kuwasaidia yatima kuweza kujikwamua na ujinga pamoja na umasikini mbavyo vimekuwa sehemu ya maisha yao amesema ongezeko la watoto wa aina hiyo kwa sasa ni kubwa na linasababisha watoto hao kujiingiza katika vitendo viovu vikiwemo wizi, ukahaba na hatimae, ujambazi Alisema watoto walio katika mazingira magumu na yatima huwa wanakuwa na matatizo mbali mbali yakiwemo ya kisaikolojia, ukosefu wa haki za kimsingi na mahitaji muhimu ambayo yanajumuisha chakula, malazi, na makazi. Wazazi wa Julius walifariki mwaka 2000 yeye akiwa darasa la saba. Hali hiyo iliyopelekea familia kuwa katika hali ngumu. Alibahatika kumaliza shule na kufanikiwa kuchaguliwa kuendele na masomo ya sekondari. Hata hivyo alikumbana na ugumu wa maisha uliotishia kuendelea kwake na masomo. Namshukuru Mungu aliyemshusha Mheshimwa Mbunge, Mama Lediana Mung ong o, akajitolea kunisaidia na kunisomesha. Ndoto za Julius zilizidi kutimia na hatimae kufanikiwa kumaliza elimu ya sekondari na kujiunga na Chuo Kikuu cha Dar es salaam katika Kitengo cha Biashara ambapo hadi sasa ni mwanafunzi wa mwaka wa pili akiwa na lengo la kuwa mchumi wa taifa na kimataifa. SOURCE: AIDSWEEK Julius Sosovele (extreme right) poses in a group photo with senior policy makers 3

4 Sitta commends PACT Tanzania for assisting vulnerable children The Minister for Community Development Gender and Children, Margaret Sitta, has commended PACT Tanzania for assisting orphans and the most vulnerable children to get social services just like other children. Sitta made the remarks in Dar es Salaam at the recently in a workshop called to update legislators on the situation of orphans and other vulnerable children. The one-day work shop was organized by the European Parliamentarians for Africa in collaboration with the National Assembly and the United Nations Children s Fund. She said PACT Tanzania, through The President s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR), had served as one of America s strongest goodwill ambassadors in recent years, as the acronym had become synonymous with life-saving help in many parts of the world,including Tanzania. When children are orphaned, they become vulnerable to a whole host of dangers in the name of supporting themselves and their siblings, she said. He said children who had been orphaned often drop out of school to provide for themselves and to pay for food and school fees for younger siblings. She remarked: Orphaned children often fall prey to sexual exploitation and possibly prostitution; they may be coopted into joining militias or armed group or forced into domestic servitude, Sitta said HIV/AIDS were the leading cause of death among those aged between 15 and 59 years old. Eighty per cent of all the children who have lost a parent to HIV/AIDS in the developing world are living in this region, she said According to the minister even when the HIV infection rates stabilized or begun to decline the number of orphans will continue to grow or remain high for many years due to time lag between HIV infection and deaths. She said while HIV/AIDS had dramatically included the number of orphans word wide, it was not the only disease leaving orphans in its wake. She urged PACT Tanzania and other non-governmental organizations to assist orphans and vulnerable children hit hard by HIV/AIDS. Mussa Mgata, the PACT Tanzania Global Fund Coordinator said the fund had been striving to build a strong and democratic society that protects the right of vulnerable children, women, and marginalized groups. According to him as of last September, PEPFAR had supported life saving antiretroviral treatment to more than 2.1 million men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS around the world. He said nearly 9.7 million people affected by HIV/AIDS in PEPFAR s 15-focus countries had received compassionate care, including nearly 4 million orphans and vulnerable children. SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN Huduma za afya Lindi za suasua 4 Idara ya Afya wilayani hapa Mkoa wa Lindi ina upungufu wa watumishi wapatao 436 na kusababisha kusuasua kutoa huduma ya matibabu katika vituo vyake. Akizungumza na waandishi wa habari mjini Lindi, Mkuu wa Wilaya hiyo, Nurudin Babu alisema watumishi hao wa kada mbalimbali wanatakiwa kusambazwa kwenye hospital mbili, vituo na zahanati 42. Babu alisema kwa vituo hivyo vina watumishi 164 ambao hawatoshi kutoa huduma hizo na kusababisha msongamano wa wagonjwa katika vituo hivyo kwa muda mrefu. Alisema kutokana na upungufu huo, vituo vimekuwa vikiendeshwa na watumishi wenye viwango vya taaluma isiyokidhi mahitaji halisi licha ya jitihada wanazozionyesha katika kuhudumia jamii usiku na mchana. Babu aliyataja matatizo mengine yanayoikabili idara hiyo kuwa ni ukosefu wa dawa navitendea kazi na kusababisha malalamiko kutoka kwa wagonjwa hasa ambao hawana uwezo Akizungumza kuhusu magonjwa yaliyokidhiri wilayani hapa kuwa ni malaria,vichomi, masikio, macho, tumbo, upungufu wa damu, minyoo na fangasi. Babu amesema kutokana na kushamiri kwa matatizo hayo, uongozi wa Serikali wilayani humo, unaendelea na mikakati ya kuwasiliana na Wizara husika, ili kuongezewa wataalam hao wa Afya pamoja na vitendea kazi kwa lengo la kuboresha huduma hiyo kwa jamii. Kuhusu UKIMWI, Babu alisema kwa kipindi cha January 1 hadi 31, mwaka jana watu 14,543 walijitokeza kupima afya kwa hiari, kati yao 402 wakiwemo watoto 22, waligundulika kuwa wameambukizwa virusi vyake. Kati yao watu wazima ni 380 na watoto 22 ambao wameanza kutumia dawa za kerefusha maisha kama ARVs. SOURCE: NIPASHE

5 Chuo cha Ustawi wa Jamii cha Kijitonyama, Dar es salaam kimepata mafanikio katika kipindi kifupi toka kuanzishwa kwa kituo cha ushauri nasaha. Katika kipindi cha miaka miwili, kumekuwa na milolongo ya mafunzo ya uelimishaji rika kwa wanafunzi na wafanyakazi chuoni hapo. Aidha kumekuwa na uhusika wa moja kwa moja katika tamasha wakati wa kipindi cha siku ya UKIMWI inayoazimishwa Desemba mosi kila mwaka. Hali hiyo, imesababisha kuongezeka kwa uelewa wa masauala ya UKIMWI Tanzania Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS) Director of Policy and Planning, Dr Raphael Kalinga, has said that HIV/AIDS campaign should focus on specific groups if it is to be successful. He said that recent studies indicate that HIV/AIDS prevalence among specific groups in the society was very high, calling for focus on specific groups. He was speaking in Dar es Salaam recently, at a one-day seminar for Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT) head of departments, who are also members of DIT s Technical AIDS Sub-Committee (TAsC) on capacity building. Dr Kalinga said that decades of generalization in HIV/AIDS control measures had proved failure, because every group in the society needs to be sensitized through specific channels and techniques. For example, he said, the campaigning method that could be appropriate among learned members of the society could not work for the less educated members. Dr Kalinga said that in 2007/08 presidential HIV/AIDS testing campaign, Zanzibar had a general small prevalence of infection rate. He said that it was further learned that infection rate among the member of specific group of drug users in Zanzibar was at 40 per cent, which is the highest in the country. Wasomi ustawi waamka kupambana na UKIMWI University and colleges are important centres from which the nation organizes the next generation of intellectuals for sustainable development. But if we are not careful, this great investment will perish, miongoni mwa jamii ya chuo hicho, anasema Daudi Chanilla, Mhadhiri Mwandamizi wa Chuo hicho. Chanilla ambaye pia ni Mkuu wa Kituo cha Ushauri Nasaha anasema, wakati wa kampeni ya kitaifa ya upimaji hiari wa VVU mwaka juzi, takribani wanachuo 210 walipima na kujua hali ya afya zao. Alisema hii ilitutia moyo sana. Kuhusu suala zima la mabadiliko ya kitabia Chanilla anasema siyo rahisi kujua lakini yapo ya namna fulani. Kuhusu matumizi ya kondomu chuoni hapo, kiongozi mwingine wa kituo hicho anasema: leo zikiwekwa kesho huzikuti. Kwa mujibu wa Chanilla kwa kushirikiana na SPW tumekuwa tukiweka kondomu vyooni na zinachukuliwa kwa kasi ya ajabu. SOURCE: AIDS WEEK/Hassani Mzighan,Ustawi Be focused, HIV/AIDS campaigners told The Director noted that students in the higher learning institutes were also at a great risk and there was a need to have special programmes, to make sure that the group stays free from infections. University and colleges are important centres from which the nation organizes the next generation of intellectuals for sustainable development. But if we are not careful, this great investment will perish, he said. Earlier, DIT s Principal and Chairman of TAsC, Prof John Kondoro, said that meagre budgets from TACAIDS for the Institute s ant-hiv/aids campaign was a constraint, and asked for more funds. Lack of enough budget constraints our capacity to provide financial and counselling assistance to our staff, as a result, people are not ready to disclose their status, posing a risk of high prevalence, he said. Responding to the claims, Dr Kalinga said that plans were underway to enable high learning institutions through TAsC, to acquire financial assistance direct from the donors. According to the findings of the 2007/2008 presidential HIV/AIDS testing campaign, the national prevalence rate is at 5.7 per cent. However, Iringa Region has the highest prevalence rate of 15.7 per cent. SOURCE: DAILYNEWS Highlights of HIV/AIDS situation in Tanzania Mainland The national prevalence stands at 5.7% down from 7% in 2004 Epidemic has stabilized around 6% among those aged years (Generalized Epidemic) Wide regional variation of HIV prevalence between 0.9%- 15% Drivers of the epidemic include transactional sex; low condom use; trans-generational sex and gender inequalities. National VCT campaign spearheaded by the Head of State has increased uptake to 37% National HIV prevention budget is 17% of the total HIV and AIDS budget (PER 2007) EDITORIAL BOARD Chairman: Adolph S. Kivamwo Editor-in Chief: Charles M. Kayoka Copy Editor: George Nyembela Type-setting: Irene Kimambo ANNOUNCEMENT AJAAT has vast skills in producing newsletters for individual organizations. Those interested can feel free to contact us for service. -Editor- 5

6 6 Let us start HIV, STIs interventions in primary schools-study The findings of a groundbreaking study in Mwanza were reported recently. The study is one of very few studies in sub-saharan Africa that has measured the impact of interventions among young people on the frequency of HIV infection and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), as well as on knowledge, attitudes and reported behaviour. The trial was carried out by the Tanzania National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, with the African Medical & Research Foundation (AMREF), an Is alcohol, prostitutes really what fishermen like most? MORE fishermen choose to spend most of their income on alcohol and prostitutes than those who choose to pay their children s school fees or build houses for their families, research conducted in the Lake Victoria area has shown. An interim findings report presented to a Research on Poverty Alleviation (REPOA) workshop in Dar es Salaam recently says that with the exception of food, alcohol and prostitution are seemingly the most attractive expenditure avenues for many fishermen around the lake. The Chief Researcher, Dr Odass Bilame, told workshop participants that 62.3 per cent of respondents in the survey said they spent part of their incomes on alcohol, while 58.5 per cent acknowledged spending big on prostitution. On the other hand, only 52.8 per cent of the respondents mentioned education, either for themselves or their kids, on their list of expenditures. Almost all the respondents mentioned food, for themselves and their households, as a priority expenditure item. All 53 respondents in the survey said the income generated from their fishing activities was helping them meet their basic necessities, Dr Bilame said in his research paper titled: Contribution of small-scale Nile Perch Fisheries to household income: A case study of Sengerema and Ilemela Districts in Mwanza. international African organization, supporting the government staff to deliver the interventions. This trial shows that we can improve knowledge of young people through HIV education in primary schools, but also that this knowledge was clearly not enough to make a major impact on actual behaviour, says lead researcher,prof. David Ross of London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The results showed that the interventions in primary schools, in health facilities and in communities substantially increased young people s knowledge of HIV, STIs, pregnancy, and their prevention. However, there was no impact on The study also found that fishermen receiving monthly salaries were the lowest income earners - receiving 60,000/- monthly - while those paid 300/- per each kilogramme of fish caught earned slightly higher; an average of 109,000/-. The research, which covered Kijiweni and Igombe beaches in Sengerema and Ilemela Districts respectively, concluded that fishermen on the Kijiweni beach were getting higher take-home pay due to the fact that they prefer to use man-powered canoes rather than petrol-engine boats. Similarly, the findings state, where owners of the fishing gear in use are included in the fishing team, the generated income is more fairly distributed because the owners experience the true nature of the task at hand, that it demands energy and risk-taking. However, the category of fishermen who earn below 100,000/- a month were found to be spending more on petrol on Igombe beach. This, according to the research findings, suggests that these fishermen might have been stealing petrol and selling it as a way of compensating the meagre income they receive. However, the income generated from fishing activities around the lake in general is seen to have little, if any, impact on poverty alleviation in the area, since most of those engaged in the activities are not local area residents but immigrants from far-off places, including Kigoma Region. The research findings also include a recommendation that fishing in the lake needs to be postponed for a while due to allow regeneration of fish stock. Small sizes of Nile perch have been caught...this compromises sustainable fishing of the species, the report says. Source: THISDAY HIV, STIs or pregnancies, either 3 years or 8 years after the interventions were started in 10 rural communities (each roughly equivalent to a ward) in Mwanza Region. More than 13,000 young people participated in the rigorous evaluation assessing the long-term impact of the MEMA kwa Vijana (Good things for young people, in Swahili) HIV prevention intervention in Mwanza, northwestern Tanzania. The intervention aims to reduce the rate of new infections among youth through sexual health education in primary schools, making clinic staff more youth-friendly and supportive activities in their communities. The study took place in selected wards of Geita, Kwimba, Misungwi and Sengerema Districts. SOURCE: AIDSWEEK Wanaoishi na VVU K`ndoni wapashwa Baraza la watu wanaoishi na virusi vya UKIMWI nchini (NACOPHA), limewataka wanachama wake kuacha kubaguana wenyewe kwa wenyewe ili kuishawishi jamii isiige tabia hiyo ya kuwabagua na kuwatenga. Mwenyekiti wa NACOPHA, Vitalis Makayula, amesema kitendo cha wanachama kutoaminiana wakati wa utekelezaji wa majukumu yao ya kila siku katika vyama na mashirika ya watu wanaoishi na Virusi vya UKIMWI (VVU), kinasababisha baadhi ya wahisani, kushindwa kuwapa misaada stahili na kwa wakati. Makayula ameyasema hayo wakati wa hafla ya kusaidia vyandarua 52, kwa watu wanaoishi na VVU ambao ni wanachama wa mtandao wa KINDIPHA, uliopo wilayani Kinondoni. Akasema vyandarua hivyo vyenye dawa vimetolewa na NACOPHA na vimekabidhiwa kwa walengwa na Naibu Meya wa Manispaa ya Kinondoni, Ibrahim Kisoki, ambaye aliwataka waathirika hao wa VVU kujitunza ili wasipate malaria na maambukizi mapya ya virusi ya UKIMWI. Awali, akizungumza katika hafla hiyo, Mwenyekiti wa KINDIPHA, Feliciana Rwitta, amesema pamoja na kushukuru kwa msaada huo, lakini akasema bado idadi ya wanachama wanaohitaji msaada huo ni kubwa. ``Kinondoni pekee kuna vikundi 46 vya watu wanaoishi na VVU, vyenye wanachama wapatao 1,250, lakini leo ni wanachama 52 tu ndiyo wamepata vyandarua hivyo ambavyo ni muhimu kwa maisha ya wanachama wetu,`` akasema. Ameongeza kuwa vikundi vilivyonufaika na vyandarua hivyo ni Zuinama kutoka kata ya Makumbusho, Tumaini Rejea Maisha (TUREMA) cha Kunduchi, Goba Group kutoka Goba, Kipelauwi cha Kata ya Kibamba na Maukita cha Msasani. SOURCE: ALASIRI

7 Summary Report of the Regional Video Conference on Stigma & Discrimination in Africa This is a brief report of the Regional Video Conference on stigma and Discrimination held on April 2nd, The conference started form around 1430hrs at World Bank Conference on 2nd April, 2009 as planned. It ended at 1930hrs 2. Dr. Calista Simbakalia was the Guest of Honor and also chaired and facilitated the session 3. TACAIDS was represented by Acting Executive Chairman, Mr. Burhan Muhunzi, Mr. Richard Ngirwa & Mr. Milton Lupa. 58 Tanzanians (F:M=1:1) mostly from CSOs and Media participated. Professional associations such as TAWLA, Tanzania Law Society, AJAAT, MEWATA, TAMWA were represented. PLHIVs, youth and students (secondary and medical) were also represented. 4. Dr Subilaga presented Tanzania country paper, which had inputs received from Ministry of Justice & Constitutional Affairs- Ms. Mwendwa Malecela, MUHAS Dr. Jesse Mbwambo, Ms. Lusajo Kajula, UNAIDS- E. Mziray, MOHSW- Dr. Fimbo, CSOs- Kimara Peer Educators, Pact TZ, ICAP, AMREF, FHI. 5. We tried to have an in country team to support the process, it was challenging and the team met twice-sam Komba, Vera, Subilaga (TACAIDS), Ms. Joan Chamungu (TNW+), Dr. J. Balati (CSSW), Mr. Kessy Mgonella ( MOHSW),Thomas -Youth representative, Rosalie (WB, Simon Kivamwo (AJAAT) 6. The VC was chaired by Ms. Elizabeth Lule, AIDS Campaign Team for Africa (ACTafrica), WB, who gave welcoming remarks, four4 presentations were made including the Key note address that was delivered by Ms. Jemima, a Courageous teacher living positively and openly with HIV from Kenya Positive Teachers Association (KENEPOTE). These presentations were on a. Political Commitment to Addressing Stigma and Discrimination of HIV/ AIDS in Africa: African Union- H.E. Ambassador Amina S. Ali, African Union Ambassador to the USA b. Overview and Context: Understanding and Challenging Stigma and Discrimination of HIV/AIDS: International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) -Ms. Anne Stangle, Behavioral Scientist and Stigma Specialist, ICRW c. Faith Based Response: Leadership of Faith Based Organizations in Addressing Stigma and Discrimination of HIV/AIDS in Africa: Ethiopian Orthodox Church -Patriarch Aba Paulos, Ethiopian Orthodox Church d. Key Note Speech: Experiencing Stigma and Discrimination, Initiatives by Positive Kenyan Teachers- Ms. Jemima, KENEPOTE e. Translating Policy Frameworks into Action, UNAIDS- Ms. Susan Timberlake, Senior Human Rights and Law Adviser, UNAIDS 7. Summary of issues Raised/observed following presentations and discussions: a. Limitations with resources- financing needs to be predictable to scale up b. Stigma and discrimination issues need to be in National HIV strategy and budgeted for- need to develop clear costed action plans. It was observed that current World Bank supported HIV/AIDS programmes do not adequately address Stigma and Discrimination. This will change. Countries without WB support, the WB will work with UNAIDS and continues on page 8 Tanzania participants in videoconference (Photos:AJAAT) 7

8 8 Summary Report of the Regional Video Conference on Stigma & Discrimination in Africa continues from 7 PEPFAR to ensure that Stigma and Discrimination issues are adequately addressed in National HIV Strategies. Otherwise, no progress will be made, as we cant continue with about 10% only of people in SSA/ Africa have tested for HIV (Tanzania has made some progress, though still a long way to go- 37% women, 27% Men of years according to THMIS 2007/08) c. Decrease bureaucracy to ensure that beneficiaries receive money and support in a timely manner d. It was observed that almost all country presentations lacked quantitative analysis of HIV situations e.g. how many people were reached, what difference did we make, need to show results, process indicators are useful, but need to show more- outcome indicators e. Role of FBOs in supporting Stigma Discrimination reduction, supporting PLHIVs and the communities to deal with HIV. However, it was stressed by his Holiness Holy, Patriarch Aba Paulos of Ethiopian Orthodox church, that it was individual responsibility as we have power in our hands to protect ourselves from getting infected with HIV. f. Linkages with other critical services such as Nutrition, Sexual and Reproductive Health, addressing Gender based violence, legal protection/human rights, etc. g. Capacity building of institutions to address Stigma and Discrimination h. Monitoring Evaluation of Stigma Discrimination reductions interventions/programmes. 8. Next steps: a. Need to conduct next meetings in about 6 months time, dialogue will continue through the internet b. WB Washington will share all the materials presented and collected during this VC c. We were all encouraged to watch Courage and Hope - which I have and I believe J. Issango has a copy since we were given during ICASA 2008 conference. d. Through ASAP support will assist countries to ensure that Stigma Discrimination issues are addressed in National HIV strategies. ASAP is UNAIDS initiative hosted by WB e. WB will follow up with other UNAIDS Co-sponsor especially UNDP on how to address sex workers ( and their clients), prisoners, IDUs, MSM, other vulnerable populations such as youth and women, without forgetting the men. f. Finally she concluded by results. Results and Prevention, Prevention, Prevention 9. Conclusion & Recommendations a. It was a very good meeting with a lot of sharing on Stigma and Discrimination b. Tanzania need to do more on Stigma Discrimination- Now is the opportunity with soon to be released- National Guideline on Integrating Reduction of Stigma and Discrimination into HIV and AIDS Programming- see in the same folder G drive)- the guide is on its pre-final stages, and has been endorsed by TACAIDS. It was developed by MUHAS in collaboration with other partners- FHI, Kimara Peer Educators, etc. c. Need to establish a forum on reducing/ addressing Stigma and Discrimination in the country/ or integrate in the existing MKUKUTA dialogue structure- can discussed further. I understand in 2004 a team of people tried to establish a National Forum on Reducing Stigma and Discrimination known as Advisory Council on Stigma and Discrimination reduction. I have shared the minutes and constitution given to me by Dr. Fimbo- NACP during the preparation of this VC. d. As a country need to agree on the next steps in addressing S & D in Tanzania. I would like to thank all that supported the process. Special appreciations to Dr. C. Simbakalia, TACAIDS Commissioner, TACAIDS Management- represented by B. Muhunzi, R. Ngirwa, M. Lupa & R. Kihongo; Ms. Stella Ngowi (TACAIDS), Dr. J. Mmbwambo & Ms. Lusajo Kajula, Ms. Mwendwa Malecela (Ministry of Justice & Constitutions Affairs), Ms. Jane Calder (Pact TZ), Dr. Benedicta Mduma (AMREF), Mr. Emmanuel Mziray(UNAIDS), Ms. P. Kiwia & Mr. Manyama (Kimara Peer Educators), Ms. Rosalie (WB-TZ), Ms. Magdalena Rwebangira (TLS/TAWLA), Simon Kivamwo (AJAAT),Ms. Mihayo Bupamba (ICAP).