THE Geita Gold Mine. By 2007, about 2 million. GGM extends financial support for institutions fighting HIV/AIDS. Our Vision:

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1 Issue No. 173 May 19-25, 2012 Association of Journalists Against AIDS in Tanzania (AJAAT) P.O Box Tel: / / Bahari Motors Building, Kameroun Road Plot No. 43, Kijitonyama, Dar es Salaam Supported by UNDP/UNAIDS GGM extends financial support for institutions fighting HIV/AIDS By 2007, about 2 million people in Tanzania were estimated to be living with HIV and AIDS with approximately 600,000 (30 per cent) in need of antiretroviral Therapy The Tanzania Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS) officials and the Guest of honour at the Kilimanjaro Challenge Against HIV/AIDS 2012 launching ceremony, holding an example of a cheque donated to TACIDS by the Geita Gold Mine. From left are: TACAIDS director of Policy and Planning, Dr. Rafael Kalinga, Guest of honour and chairman of TEITI, Judge Mark Bomani, TACAIDS director of advocacy, Jumanne Issango, and GGM Managing Director, Gary Davies THE Geita Gold Mine (GGM) has once again contributed Tsh. 750m to different private and government institutions involved in HIV and AIDS prevalence reduction activities in the country. Announcing the contribution at the Kilimanjaro Challenge Against HIV/AIDS 2012 launch ceremony held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel- Hotel the Kilimajaro, the Anglo- Gold Ashanti Geita Gold Mine Managing director Gary Davies thanked all who made acquisition of the fund possible. He mentioned the names of beneficiaries (with the amount in the brackets) as the Tanzania Commission for AIDS (TA- CAIDS -150m/-, Moyo wa Huruma (150m/-), Geita VCT Center (150m/-), Geita District Hospital (20m/-) and Mkapa Foundation which got 30m/-. Mr. Davies expressed appreciation to the GGM workers for turning the mine around from a loss making operation to a profitmaking company which contribute significantly to the government coffers through royalties and corporate taxes. He said that apart from contributing to the government coffers, Mutual Partnerships in the Health Sector Help Fight, Manage HIV/Aids (ART). A study conducted by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare showed that the public health sector had a shortage of 53,214 GGM has and continued to have an excellent track record in corporate social responsibility and empowerment as it embraced motto The communities and societies in health workers (65 per cent) needed for the smooth delivery of health services in the country. The average HIV prevalence rate in the country is estimated at 5.7 which we operate will be betteroff for AGA having been there. Examples of the social responsibilities GGM has involved in Continue on page 2 per cent, however large regional disparities exist with HIV prevalence ranging from 1 per cent in Kigoma region to 16 per cent in Continue on page 2 Our Vision: 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 Mutual Partnerships in the Health Sector Help Fight, Manage HIV/Aids from page 1 Iringa Region. Geographically, HIV prevalence in urban areas has been almost twice as high as in rural areas. Whereas the prevalence is decreasing in most of the regions, there are a few regions the prevalence seems to be on the rise; namely Iringa, Mara and Shinyanga.The Government of Tanzania is committed to increasing HIV prevention efforts in order to drastically reduce the rate and number of new infections. The prevention efforts aim to decrease the risk of infection among the general population, especially young people by increasing their knowledge skills and access to relevant youth friendly healthcare services. Other initiatives include Prevention of Mother to child Transmissions of HIV (PMTCT), Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) services management of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) blood transfusion and injection safety and more. In the area of care and treatment from page 1 include provision of clear water to Geita Township through the Geita town water project, building of a Girls Secondary Boarding school at Nyamkumbu and partnering with African Barrick and the government with VETA on the Moshi Technical training Center. We have built classrooms in many Villages, built a dispensary at Nyakabale and upgrade the Geita Town Hospital, an operating Theatre and maternity ward, and partnered with AMREF and the District Council in the fight against AIDS by providing operational funding for the town s VTC center he said. The Kilimanjaro Challenge has been a continuous annual The life-prolonging antiretroviral (ARV) medication, has turned around the health status of many PLHIV who were bedridden as they are now fully engaged in various economic and income generation activities of HIV and AIDS, Tanzania has made remarkable achievements in efforts to access treatment. The operational target for the provision of ARTs was to 440,000 AIDS patients in 2008 of which 60 per cent of the patients received the treatment. event which came about after GGM recognized that HIV and AIDS was a global epidemic that continued to pose a threat to every human being, their employees, youth and the entire Nation. He said that through the challenge, GGM has been able to contribute among other things, towards improving understanding of HIV/AIDS; make financial contributions in support of HIV/ AIDS initiatives in the country; give local climbers and especially GGM employee s opportunity to climb Mount Kilimanjaro-the highest mountain in Africa. Through the challenge, GGM also managed to build national team spirit in the noble fight against HIV/AIDS; and align the challenge s objectives with existing government HIV/AIDS initiatives and programmes. Since the start of the Kilimanjaro challenge initiative in 2002, over 3.7 billion has been raise and used for various social responsibility activities in the country. The Chairman of Tanzania Extractive industry Transparency in the mining Sector Judge Mark Bomani said the GGM Kilimanjaro Challenge came as a result of creation of the Global Fund which has played a pivotal role in the fight of HIV/AIDS. Unfortunately, he said, there have been reports of misuse of funds which jeopardized development partners continue funding HIV/AIDS programmes. The question is how shall we cope and what will be our major In a bid to boost the numbers of patients receiving ART, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare established care and treatment units starting from referral hospitals right down to health centres and dispensaries. Working closely with stakeholders and development partners, the government is scaling up efforts in the prevention and care of HIV and AIDS and whole health sector in general in the country. One of such stakeholders is the Benjamin Mkapa HIV Foundation (BMAF) through a unique mutual partnership under a close collaboration with the government with the overall aim of strengthening health systems and delivery which covers the prevention and care of HIV and AIDS. Through the partnership, the Foundation supports various initiatives under the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Prime Minister s Office Regional Administration and Local Government and President s Office - Public Service Management. The Foundation through a USAID funded project -- Tanzania Human Resource Capacity Project provides technical assistance to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in reviewing and developing various guidelines related to health sector workforce, says Ms Sizarina Hamisi, the Mkapa Foundation Programme Officer for Advocacy. She says the working partner- Continue on page 3 GGM extends financial support for institutions fighting HIV/AIDS source of funding in the struggle against HIV/AIDS? that is how you came in with your Kilimanjaro challenge initiatives he said He said HIV/AIDS still posed a big danger locally and internationally although the national statistics show the prevalence declined from 13.7 percent to about 5.8 percent in the last six years. This is nevertheless still very high and we as Tanzanians cannot be complacent I urge my fellow Tanzanians to do everything possible to take Tanzania forward and away from new HIV infections he said. He also urged PLHIV to come out for counseling and treatment since AIDS was now a known societal disease and not a curse. Source: AJAAT, Perege Gumbo

3 International AIDS Candlelight Memorial promotes the health and dignity On May 20, around 100,000 people worldwide commemorated the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial to remember those who have lost their lives to AIDS and to support those living with HIV and affected by its impact. Supported by community, business and religious leaders in 500 town and villages in 115 countries, Memorial participants called for greater action from all actors in the HIV response. The International AIDS Candlelight Memorial is a vivid reminder of our continuous battle against a very deadly disease, says Mayowa Joel, Candlelight Memorial Coordinator in Nigeria. Remembering the friends and loved ones we lost to AIDS is essential in this time of dwindling funds and ever changing global health and development priorities that threaten the advances we have made to stop AIDS and reverse the spread of HIV and other closely associated diseases especially TB. According to the most recent UNAIDS statistics, around 34 million people are living with HIV globally. Increasing access to HIV treatment has aided efforts to stabilize the epidemic, but still every year 1.8 million people die of AIDS related diseases, while some 2.7 million new people become infected. Annually at least 390,000 children are born with HIV, something which is wholly preventable with current medical knowledge. People participating in this year s International AIDS Candlelight Memorial called for governments and international agencies to ensure more people have access to better health services and HIV treatment. Also Memorial participants demanded local and national governments to do more to support the human rights of people living with HIV and no longer tolerate stigma and discrimination. According to International AIDS Candlelight Memorial participants, the HIV response will only be successful when it is an effort that is supported by and addresses the needs of all those affected by HIV, including all people living with HIV and specific groups such as men who have sex with men, people who use drugs, and sex workers, women and young people. Promoting Health and Dignity Together is the theme of this year s Memorial. The theme emphasizes that the health and well-being of an individual cannot be achieved without respecting a person s dignity and promoting and protecting the human rights of all. Promoting Health and Dignity Together is closely connected to the rights based framework, Positive Health, Dignity and Prevention, focusing on the health and well being of people living with HIV, which has been developed by UNAIDS and GNP+ and has informed national policies responding to the needs of people living with HIV around world source: AJAAT LINKS Mutual Partnerships in the Health Sector from page 2 ship has resulted into the development and review of some of the health workforce policies and guidelines which assist in staffing, planning, recruitment, retention, management and enhancing productivity. The Foundation s mission statement which is to improve delivery of HIV and AIDS services through innovations in health systems by strengthening particularly in underserved areas; uses existing government structures and systems with less of parallel systems for implementation as well as monitoring their programme. For instance, the recruited health workers under Benjamin Mkapa Foundation initiatives, who are referred to as Mkapa Fellows are deployed to districts based on demands and once recruited and deployed they work under the leadership and supervision of the District Executive Director. The District Medical Officer of Kilolo, Dr Wilfred Rwechungura, who has been based in the district since 2009, says that one of the most important values he has learnt as a Mkapa Fellow is to serve the disadvantaged and to make sure that all patients attended to receive quality care and treatment. He adds that Health professionals should not get stuck in urban areas but venture out to rural communities and serve the people. The current prevalence rate in Kilolo is 11 per cent although well above the national average, Dr Rwechungura says that the nationwide campaign dubbed Tanzania without AIDS is possible has been a big boost in lowering the prevalence rate in the area. In a bid to increase the numbers of mid-level and highly skilled health workers in public, private, and faith-based training facilities, the Benjamin Mkapa Foundation supports 49 health training institutions and provides for 114 tutors. The capacity building initiative has played a great part in improving the quality of training for health workers as well as increasing tested innovations to support recruitment, strengthen retention to improve service delivery. The Foundation has to date recruited and deployed about 600 health professionals to work in regional hospitals, district health facilities and various training institutions. Furthermore, the Foundation works with experts from the government zonal health training centres which partner with its experts on training, coaching and mentoring district managers so as to improve leadership and This investment is made through the support of USAID and Global Fund Round 9 and has resulted into improved health workers management in retaining qualified and skilled health professionals, improving work climate and improving provision of health services. The Foundation expects to collaborate further with the government in putting into action the Mkapa Fellows phase 2 that kicks off this year and runs up to The programme will recruit and deploy dedicated and qualified 180 health professionals who will work mainly at health centres so as to improve health services at the grassroots. This unique collaboration has led to Government recognition of Mkapa fellows as an incubator that nurtures future health leaders, whereas 10 of the Mkapa fellows are now district medical officers, Ms Hamisi says.this type of partnership is encouraged among all other stakeholders supporting the health sector development. Nevertheless two way effective communication, transparency and mutual understanding are components that each partner is to adhere and respect in order to attain common goal. Source: Daily News 3

4 Kisarawe district makes family planning a priority Kisarawe District has put family planning among its priorities in the coming District Strategic Plan ( ) following an assessment which revealed contraceptive uses decreased from 26 percent in 2010 to 4.5 percent in The Kisarawe District Planning Officer, Rafael Sabuni said recently that the decrease was due to inadequate and inconsistent supplies and services. He said of 50 health providers needed for reproductive health and family planning services, there were 25 staff employed and only seven of them have the relevant training. The District Planning Officer was speaking to the District Management Team during the development of the new five year strategic plan in Kisarawe recently. Mr Sabuni said the plan was going to make sure that people in the district had better education and better life in future. The 2010 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) shows that 98 percent of all women of reproductive age had good knowledge of family planning services, yet family planning was neither included in the just ended Kisarawe Strategic Plan ( ). The DHS says yet family planning was neither included in the Kisarawe Strategic Plan nor prioritized in the District Annual Actions Plans or budgets, though it featured the Council Comprehensive Health Plan. Kisarawe District like other district authorities in Tanzania is obligated to compliment the central government s efforts to reach national set targets. Districts compliment to the central government s efforts was necessary in order for the government to achieve MKU- KUTA II national targets on reduction of maternal deaths from the current 454 to 193 by 2015 from every 100,000 women. According to April 2012 Rapid Assessment Report on Family Services in Kisarawe by ANAT, on average there should be no more than one death in a district. However, for the past five years the number of maternal deaths in Kisarawe was alarmingly high, 9 deaths in 2008 and 4 in ANAT assessment pointed out that in 2010 there were 2 deaths while in 2011, the maternal deaths increased to five and two by April Similarly, the number of neonatal deaths rose from 39 deaths in 2010 to 49 deaths in Kisarawe district is one of the seven districts of Coast Region. According to the Census of 2002 the district had 113,780 people of whom 25,779 were women of child bearing age. The district s Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) and Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) are estimated at 554/100,000 and 39/1,000 live births respectively. The district has about 24 health facilities which include one district hospital, three health centres and 20 dispensaries. Source: AJAAT, George Nyembela Weekly quotable quotes!! We ve taken on the major health problems of the poorest - tuberculosis, maternal mortality, AIDS, malaria - in four countries. We ve scored some victories in the sense that we ve cured or treated thousands and changed the discourse about what is possible---dr. Paul Farmer VICHOCHEO VYA MAAMBUKIZI Majumba ya video Picha chafu za ngono Kipato kidogo kwa wanafamilia kinachopelekea biashara ya ngono Unywaji wa pombe na vileo vingine Kutetereka kwa ndoa Mila Potofu Tabia ya kufunga ndoa bila kupima SOURCE: Advocacy and Communication department, TACAIDS 4 HIV FACTS AND STATISTICS IN TANZANIA The Tanzania HIV and Malaria Indicator Survey (THMIS) included HIV testing of over 15,000 men and women. According to the survey, 5.7% of Tanzanians age are HIV-positive. HIV prevalence is higher among women than men in both urban and rural areas. Urban residents are almost twice as likely as rural residents to be HIV positive. Women get infected earlier than men. For women, prevalence increases with age until it reaches a peak at age (10.4%). The peak for men occurs between ages (10.6%). Tanzania s HIV prevalence has declined slightly in recent years. The current HIV prevalence rate is 5.7%, with 6.6% for women and 4.6% for men. By contrast, the Tanzania HIV Indicator Survey (THIS) found an overall HIV prevalence of 7.0%, with 7.7% for women (6,000 tested) and 6.3% for men (4,900 tested).these results show a statistically significant decline in HIV prevalence among men but not among women. HIV prevalence is highest in Iringa (16%), Dar es Salaam, and Morogoro (9% each). Infection rates are lowest in Zanzibar (less than 1%). Drivers of the epidemic 1. Promiscuous sexual behaviour 2. Intergerational sex 3. Concurrent sexual partners 4. Presence of other sexually transmitted infections such as herpes simplex x 2 virus. 5. Lack of knowledge of HIV transmission Contextual factors shaping the epidemic in the country 1. Poverty and transactional sex with increasing numbers of commercial sex workers 2. Men s irresponsible sexual behaviour due to cultural patterns of virility 3. Social, economic and political gender inequalities including violence against women 4. Substance abuse such as alcohol consumption 5. Local cultural practices e.g. widow cleansing 6. Mobility in all its forms which leads to separation of spouses and increased establishment of temporary sexual relationships 7. Lack of male circumcision SOURCE: TACAIDS Editorial Board Chairman Adolph S. Kivamwo Editor-in Chief: Charles M. Kayoka Editor Perege Gumbo Copy Editor: George Nyembela Type-setting Irene Kimambo Journalist Benedict Sichalwe ANNOUNCEMENT AJAAT has vast skills in producing newsletters for individual organizations. Those interested can feel free to contact us for service- Editor

5 Ukimwi ni janga la uchumi wa familia UKIMWI uliogundulika nchini miaka 29 iliyopita, Sasa umegusa vijiji vingi na kusababisha vifo vya vijana waliokuwa na uwezo mkubwa wa kuleta madiliko kiuchumi, kisiasa na kijamii kwa ajili ya manufaa ya Taifa letu. Pamoja na kupoteza watu hao, lakini pia limekuwa shimo la kuzika uchumi wa familia, taifa na hata dunia. Wakazi wa vijiji, kata, mijini, sasa wanakiri kwamba kila baada ya mwezi wanasikia taarifa za kuugua kwa watu mbalimbali ama kufariki kwa ndugu, jamaa au marafiki katika maeneo mbalimbali nchini. Magari yanayosafirisha marehemu kutoka miji mkubwa kama Dar es Salaam kwenda mikoani sasa ni mengi zaidi ukilinganisha na miaka 10 iliyopita. Tanzania ya sasa inakadiriwa kuwa na wagonjwa wa Ukimwi 1.5 milioni huku wengine karibu watu milioni 3 wakiwa na virusi. Wote wanahitaji matumizi ya ziada kila siku. Suala la kuhani misiba sasa linatuibia muda wetu mwingi wa kazi, kwa sababu karibu kila mwezi tunapata taarifa za kufariki jamaa, ndugu na marafiki, anasema Yesaya Kilindu, mkazi wa Kijiji cha KK wilayani Rungwe. Kilindu akiwa safarini kwenda kwenye msiba uliotokea huko jijini Mbeya anabainisha kwamba msiba huo pekee anaweza kutumia Sh20,000 zikiwamo nauli ya Sh5,000 kwa ajili ya kuhani. Kilindu anakiri kwamba karibu kila mwezi anahudhuria masuala ya misiba. Ukimwi sasa umechangia vifo vya baadhi ya wakurugenzi wa taasisi, mameneja, wakuu wa idara, vitengo, wafanyakazi wa kawaida, wafanyabiashara mashuhuri, wauza baa, wakulima wafugaji na hata wahudumu wa maeneo mbalimbali yakiwamo majeshi. Sababu za vifo hivyo zinatajwa kuwa ni kisukari, ini, moyo, shinikizo la damu na mengine mengi, lakini watalaamu wa sekta ya afya wanadokeza zaidi kwamba vifo vingi vinachangiwa na Virusi vya Ukimwi (VVU). Watalaamu hao wanasema pamoja na juhudi za kupambana na ugonjwa huo kwa njia mbalimbali zikiwamo za kutumia vidonge vya kurefusha maisha, kusambaza kondomu, semina na midahalo, bado Ukimwi unaendelea kumaliza nguvu kazi ya taifa na familia mbalimbali. Ukimwi unasababisha hasara kwa Serikali, wazazi na familia inayoachwa. Mwenyekiti Mtendaji wa Tume ya kupambana na Ukimwi (Tacaids) Dk Fatma Mrisho anasema Tanzania sasa inahitaji Sh1 trilioni ili kupambana vizuri na Ukimwi. Lakini Dk Mrisho amekumbwa na hofu kutokana na nchi tisa za Ulaya na Asia zilizokuwa zikitoa fedha za kupambana na ugonjwa huo kusimamisha msaada wa fedha. Kutokana na hali hiyo sasa Serikali itaanza kujitegemea katika vita dhidi ya Ukimwi. Nchi zilizojitoa ni Japan, Sweden, Ireland, Norway, Switzerland, Uingereza, Ufaransa, Ubelgiji na Uholanzi huku Marekani na Mfuko wa pamoja yaani Global Fund ukiendelea kusaidia mpaka mwaka Mrisho anashauri kuanzishwa kwa mfuko maalumu wa Serikali kuhusu Ukimwi ambao kwa vyovyote vile kila Mtanzania atalazimika kuchangia. Kibaya zaidi ni kwamba Ukimwi unaendelea kuumiza wengi licha kutumia fedha nyingi. Ngono zembe zinazidi kushamiri na kusababisha mimba nyingi kwa wasichana wa shule za msingi na sekondari. Lakini pi ukimwi umekuwa moja ya vyanzo vya migogoro ya kifamilia baada ya ndugu katika familia kushikana uchawi kwa waganga wa ramli. Mwanamke ambaye sasa ni mjane anayeishi Mtaa wa Msimbazi Dar es Salaam, jina limehifadhiwa anasimulia kwamba ugonjwa aliougua mumewe tangu mwaka 2011 na ambaye sasa ni marehemu, umewafilisi na kuwaacha katika hali mbaya. Alianza kuumwa mwaka 2008 na alienda kwa mganga wa kienyeji Mtwara ambako aliambiwa apeleke Sh170,000 na mbuzi ili apewe dawa ya kutibu kabisa ugonjwa huo, lakini hakupona. Pia alikwenda Bagamoyo na kutumia karibu Sh500,000 alizochukua kwenye duka letu, lakini hakupona, anasema. Anasimulia kwamba baada ya mumewe kutopona, aliamua kuuza gari lake ili aendelee kutibiwa na kwamba alienda Bariadi kwa mganga ambaye alimlazimisha akae huko mwezi mmoja na kumweleza kwamba alikuwa amelogwa na majirani, lakini hakupata nafuu licha ya kutumia zaidi ya Sh850,000. Anasema baada ya mumewe kutambua hali yake inazidi kudorora aliamua kwenda hospitali ambako alipima na kuelezwa kwamba alikuwa na Virusi vya Ukimwi (VVU). Pamoja na maelezo hayo, aliendelea kwenda kwa waganga wanaojitangaza maeneo ya Vingunguti, Morogoro na kutoa fedha nyingi, anasema. Pamoja na hayo madaktari walimshauri ale vizuri jambo ambalo pia lilihitaji fedha nyingi zaidi. Pamoja na jitihada hizo na kutumia fedha nyingi, mjane huyo mwenye watoto watano, anasema mumewe ambaye alikuwa na watoto wengine watatu wa wanawake tofauti aliaga dunia akiwa ametumia fedha nyingi bila mafanikio na kuiacha familia ikiwa katika hali mbaya kiuchumi. Hali kama hiyo pia inaelezwa na mzee Cameroon (siyo jina lake), mkazi wa Iringa ambaye alisema kwamba alikuwa akiuguza mtoto wake wa miaka 43 akiwa na familia ya mke na watoto watatu. Cameroon amefika Dar es Salaam kufuatilia mirathi. Mwanangu amefariki, lakini alitumia fedha nyingi kutaka kujinusuru katika kifo, anasema. Marehemu alikuwa akiishi katika Manispaa ya Moshi mkoani Kilimanjaro ambako alikuwa akifanya kazi. Anasema taarifa za kuugua kwa mwanae alizisikia karibu miaka miwili iliyopita, lakini alifariki dunia mapema mwaka huu. Nilipopata taarifa za kuugua kwake nilimweleza arudi nyumbani, na aliporudi tulikwenda kwa watalaamu mbalimbali na kutumia karibu Sh1 milioni hivi, anasema. Cameroon anasema alizunguka pia kwenye hospitali mbalimbali zikiwamo za madhehebu ya dini na za Serikali, lakini ugonjwa uliendelea kumtesa mwanae. Ukimwi ni ugonjwa hatari kuliko magonjwa yote, anasema. Anabainisha kwamba kabla ya mtoto wake kufariki dunia, alitumia fedha zote baada ya kuuza nyumba aliyokuwa amejenga Kihesa mjini Iring. Naye Ngadu Mazengo kutoka mkoani Dodoma anayeishi Ilala Dar es Salaam anasema Ukimwi umemaliza mitaji ya wafanyabiashara wengi wa ng ombe katika eneo a Vingunguti jijini Dar es Salaam. Anasema ukimwi umewafanya wengi wakimbilie kwa waganga wa kienyeji kwa gharama zozote akitoa mfano wa kundi lilivyomiminika kwenda Loliondo kwa Mchungaji mstaafu Ambilikile Mwasapile aliyekuwa akitibu kwa kikombe magonjwa mbalimbali. Mazengo anasema Ukimwi pia umechangia kuongezeka kwa vituo vya maombezi kwa ajili ya watu waliokata tamaa baada ya kutumia fedha nyingi kutibu magonjwa Ukimwi bila mafanikio. Mratibu wa masuala ya Ukimwi kwenye wilaya moja ya mkoani Mwanza ambaye ameomba jina lake lisitajwe anasema Ukimwi umewachanganya hata vigogo wa Taifa kwani wengi wao wanasafiri kwenda nje kusaka dawa za kupunguza maumivu yao kwa gharama kubwa. Chanzo: Mwananchi 5

6 6 SHIRIKISHO la vyama vya watu wenye ulemavu mkoani Dodoma (Shivyawata) limeiomba Serikali kuwasomesha baadhi ya wahudumu wa afya stadi za kuwahudumia watu wenye ulemavu. Ombi hilo lilitolewa hivi karibuni kwenye mkutano wa watu wenye ulemavu na wadau mbalimbali kuhusu Virusi Vya Ukimwi (VVU) na Ukimwi uliofanyika kwenye Shule ya Msingi Bahi Sokoni wilayani Bahi mkoani Dodoma. Katibu wa Shivyawata Mkoa wa Dodoma, Justus Ng wantalima alisema kuwa umefika wakati kwa Serikali kuwasomesha watoa huduma za ushauri nasaha na kupima stadi za kuwahudumia watu wenye ulemavu. Watu wenye ulemavu wana matamanio ya kingono kama walivyo watu wengine lakini cha kusikitisha ndiyo kundi lililoachwa nyuma kabisa kuhusu elimu ya Ukimwi, alisema Ng wantalima. Alisema Serikali imesikia kilio MAMLAKA ya Chakula na Dawa ya Marekani (FDA), imeidhinisha dawa ya Truvada kuwa tiba ya kuzuia kuenea kwa Virusi Vya Ukimwi (VVU). Dawa hiyo ambayo awali ilikuwa katika kundi la zile zinazotumiwa kwa ajili ya Kupunguza Makali ya VVU (ARV), imepandishwa chati wakati ambapo tayari ipo sokoni ikiuzwa kama moja ya ARV za kawaida. Kwa mujibu wa maelezo ya FDA, mwathirika anayetumia dawa hiyo anaweza kujamiiana na mwenza wake ambaye hana VVU bila kutumia kondomu na hatomuambikiza. Matokeo ya utafiti huo yaliwahi kuchapishwa kwenye gazeti hili toleo la Februari 12, mwaka huu na sasa kilichofanyika ni Wenye ulemavu waomba kupatiwa elimu ya VVU Walemvu kama hawa wanastahili kupewa kipaumbele katika juhudi za serikali za kupunguza maambukizi ya VVU nchini Dawa kudhibiti VVU yaanza kutumika rasmi FDA kuidhinisha Truvada ambayo ilionyesha kufanya kazi vizuri ikilinganishwa na ARV nyingine. Uidhinishaji wa dawa Jopo la wanasayansi 22 wa FDA waliokutana Jijini Washington wiki iliyopita, walipitisha Truvada baada ya kupitia ripoti ya utafiti kuhusiana na ufanyaji kazi wa dawa za ARV. Wanasayansi hao waliisifu dawa hiyo baada ya kuonekana kufanya kazi vizuri kwa watu waliopo kwenye hatari ya kuambukizana VVU kwa kasi zaidi. Kwa namna dawa hiyo inavyofanya kazi, mwathirika akiitumia hawezi tena kumwambukiza mtu mwingine ambaye atashiriki naye tendo la ndoa bila kutumia kondomu. Lakini, dawa hiyo cha walemavu hapa nchini na kuwasomesha watoa huduma wa ushauri nasaha na kupima ambao watakuwa tayari katika mapambano dhidi ya ugonjwa huo. Kwa mujibu wa Ng wantalima, matangazo na mabango yanayotumiwa kufikisha ujumbe wa Ukimwi hayazingatii kabisa makundi mbalimbali ya watu wenye ulemavu na kuwafanya wapitwe na elimu hiyo japo na wao pia ni waathirika wakubwa. Unajua watu wenye ulemavu wanapitwa na elimu ya Ukimwi inayotolewa kwenye radio, runinga na kwenye mabango kwa kuwa haizingatii kabisa makundi mbalimbali ya watu wenye ulemavu, alisema Ng wantalima. Chanzo: Habari Leo masharti yake hayatofautiani na yale ya ARV kwani mtumiaji atapaswa kuitumia maisha yake yote ili kumwekea kinga asiwaambukize wengine na yeye aishi muda mrefu. Kulingana na ripoti ya utafiti uliofanyika Marekani, dawa hiyo ina uwezo wa kuzuia maambukizi ya VVU hadi asilimia 90. Hata hivyo, kwa watu ambao wamekuwa wakitumia dawa holela hasa za ARV, hali imekuwa tofauti kwani Truvada imeonekana ikifanya kazi kwa kiwango cha asilimia 44 tu. Hii ni ishara kwamba kuna kundi la watu ambao dawa hiyo haitafanya kazi kikamilifu kutokana na mazingira ya matumizi ya dawa holela, ilisema sehemu ya ripoti. Hata hivyo, wanasayansi wanasema tatizo hilo linafanyiwa uchunguzi ili kupata njia bora ya kukabiliana na tatizo hilo. Faida ya Truvada: Wataalamu wameeleza kwamba itasaidia watu ambao wana VVU lakini, hawapendi kufanya tendo la ndoa kwa kutumia kondomu. Leo ni siku ya tukio la kuwasisimua wengi katika kuzuia maambukizi ya HIV, alisema mmoja wa wataalamu kutoka Taasisi ya kujitolea kusaidia jamii ya Fenway, Dk Kenneth Mayer ambaye alikuwa miongoni mwa wajumbe wa FDA walioipitisha dawa hiyo. Ingawa (Truvada) haikuweza kuonyesha uwezo wa asilimia 100 kuzuia maambukizi ya VVU, namna inavyofanya kazi itakuwa na matokeo mazuri ya Inaendelea Uk. 8

7 Baba umenikimbia kwa kuwa nina VVU! ILIKUWA Ijumaa tulivu iliyobarikiwa kuwa na mvua, hali ya hewa ya ubaridi ilileta ahueni kwa wakazi wa jiji la Dar es Salaam wanaokerwa na joto. Lakini nyumba moja haikuwa na furaha. Badala ya vicheko na amani kuitawala nyumba ile kama ilivyo kwa familia nyingine, miguno ya maumivu tu ndiyo inayosikika. Mtoto Zuhura Yahya, (6)... yu taabani. Sauti yake inatoa mikoromo pengine kwa sababu ya kuugua kifua kwa muda mrefu. Kwa umri wake, Zuhura alitakiwa awe anasoma angalau chekechekea. Pasipo maradhi haya, pengine angekuwa akicheza na wenzake wa rika lake. Kwa rika hili, Zuhura alipaswa awe anatembea kwa miguu yake, awe anazungumza maneno karibu yote. Lakini, Zuhura hazungumzi, isipokuwa anatamka maneno machache kama mama, tamu na mengine kwa shida sana. Mwili wake umedhoofu sana. Amebaki mifupa mitupu, anashinda mgongoni mwa mama au kaka yake. Hapati usingizi, isipokuwa kwa dakika chache tu, katika saa 24 za siku. Pamoja na kuwa anapitia kipindi kigumu, Zuhura hamuoni baba yake. Kwani amemkimbia si yeye pekee, bali familia nzima. Sauda Dilunga, ni mama mzazi wa Zuhura, alizaliwa miaka 33 iliyopita katika familia ya Mzee Dilunga. Sauda anasema, aliolewa na Yahya, ambaye ni baba mzazi wa Zuhura, mwaka 1998, kwa ndoa halali. Mume wangu anaitwa Yahya Mohamed, yeye ndiye baba mzazi wa Zuhura, anaanza kwa kusema mwanamke huyu. Zuhura, anasema, alibahatika kupata watoto wawili na Yahya, wa kwanza akiwa ni Arafat Yahya, au Lee na wa pili ni Zuhura. Anabainisha zaidi kuwa, mwaka 2002, ndiyo mwaka aliojifungua mtoto Arafat, na mwaka 2006, alibarikiwa kwa kumpata Zuhura. Nilijifungua Zuhura akiwa na kilo nne na gramu kadhaa, alikuwa na afya tele, wala sikudhani kama kuna lolote mbeleni, anasema. Anasema, binti yake huyo alipofikisha miezi saba, wakati huo alikuwa anajifunza kutembea, aliugua kifua. Tuliendelea kumtibu kama kawaida, lakini kifua kilikuwa hakiponi, alikuwa anapona, kinarudi tena, hivyo hivyo, anasema Sauda. Zuhura alihudhuria hospitali kila wiki, mwezi na kwa mwaka mzima, lakini hakupona. Wakati huo, alikuwa akipata matibabu katika hospitali kadhaa. Kwa kuwa anaishi eneo la Jet JET Rumo, mbali na zilipo hospitali kubwa, ilimpasa kuchoma sindano za masaa, katika zahanati ya jirani na anakoishi. Alikuwa akiandikiwa sindano mara kwa mara za kutibu kifua, ghafla miguu yake ikakosa nguvu, anasema. Baada ya kurudi na kuomba ushauri katika zahanati ile, walikiri kuwa, Zuhura alichomwa sindano katika mshipa wa mguu kimakosa jambo ambalo limemsababisha mguu huo kupooza na baadaye yote miwili. Zuhura sasa hawezi kusimama, huketi kwa dakika chache tu, na kulala kwa saa nyingine zilizobaki. Akiwa bado anaendelea na matibabu ya kifua alianza matibabu ya miguu. Madaktari Muhimbili walinishauri nimuanzishe mazoezi ya miguu, lakini huyu ana matibabu mengi, nikashindwa kuhudhuria vyema kliniki hiyo, anasema. Wakati matibabu ya kifua yakiendelea bila mafanikio, Zuhura alipata tatizo la kupungukiwa damu. Nilishauriwa nipime kipimo cha moyo (echo), majibu yalitoka kuwa ana tundu katika moyo, anaendelea. Katika misukosuko hiyo,zuhura aliendelea kukua, na alifikisha miaka mitatu. Wakati huo, kifua kilizidi kumsumbua, alilazwa hospitali ya Amana, madaktari walinishauri, tumpime Zuhura virusi (VVU), anasema. Majibu yalipotoka, yalionyesha Zuhura, ameathirika, hali kadhalika mama yake. Si hivyo tu, baada ya kipimo cha ultra- sound, majibu yalionyesha kuwa, Zuhura ana Kifua Kikuu pia anasema, Sauda, akipangusa machozi yanayotiririka mashavuni mwake. Kutokana na hali ya Zuhura kuwa mbaya, hakukawia kuanza dawa za kufubaza makali ya VVU yaani ARVs. Lakini, Sauda anashangazwa na jinsi yeye na mtoto wake walivyopata uambukizo. Anasema, akiwa na ujauzito wa Zuhura, alipima mara tatu katika hospitali iliyo jirani naye, vipimo vilionyesha kuwa hana maambukizi. Mara ya mwisho nimepima nikiwa na ujauzito wa miezi tisa na wiki moja, anasema na kuongeza: Siku 13 baada ya vipimo, nilijifungua, ndiyo maana nashangazwa. Pengine niliupata ugonjwa huu baada ya kujifungua. Anasema, alimnyonyesha Zuhura kwa miaka mitatu, hasa baada ya kumuona kuwa amepata ulemavu wa miguu. Labda wakati huo wa malezi nilipata maambukizo, hivyo nikamuambukiza Zuhura kwa kumnyonyesha... sielewi kwa kweli, anasema Sauda. Baada ya kupata majibu ya vipimo hivyo, Sauda aliumia, alishindwa kumueleza mtu yeyote, kwa kuwa alihisi watamcheka na kumtenga. Nilikuwa sina rafiki wala ndugu wa kumueleza tatizo langu, binadamu mimi nawafahamu, anasema.anasema, lakini alipotafakari, alimwambia mmoja wa kaka zake, ambaye alimfariji na usiku huo angalau, aliweza kula. Kaka yangu alinifichia siri, alinipa maneno ya hekima, yalinifariji mno, mpaka leo, namtegemea sana, anasema Baadaye aliona ni bora, amshauri mume wake Yahya, naye akapime, lakini hakulipata alilotarajia. Alipokuja hospitali kutuangalia, nilimwambia, sisi tumepimwa, tumeonekana damu zetu si safi, kwa hiyo na wewe ukajiangalie, anasema. Baada ya kumwambia hayo, mume wake alimtukana matusi ya nguoni, mbele ya wagonjwa wengine wodini humo. Nililia, nikajuta, nikasema pengine nimezaliwa na nuksi, iliniuma mno, anasema. Anaongeza: Niliona bora nisimgusie jambo hilo tena, na kweli nilinyamaza, Mwaka huu, 2012, mwanzoni ni kipindi ambacho migogoro kati ya Sauda na Yahya ilipomea. Anadai Yahya alianza kwa kuiba vito vya thamani, vitenge na mavazi mengine ya Sauda, kisha kumpelekea mwanamke mwingine. Alikuwa anachukua mpaka magodoro, anapeleka kwa mwanamke wake mwingine. Kilichoniuma ni kumwona huyo kimada wake, akiwa anavaa baadhi ya nguo zangu, anasimulia Sauda. Wakati huu, ulimpa changamoto Sauda, ingawa alikuwa hajaanza kutumia ARVs, lakini mawazo, yaliifanya afya yake kudorora, hilo lilimfanya aanze dawa mara moja. Nilikuwa nina kilo 78 na zaidi, lakini huyu mwanaume alinichanganya, mpaka nikaanza kukonda na kufikia kilo 60, ikabidi nianze ARVs, anasema Anaongeza kuwa: Baada ya hapo, alihama hapa ndani kabisa na kuhamia kwa huyo mwanamke mwingine. Kinachomuuma Sauda, ni mume wake kutowajibika kwa lolote lile katika familia yake. Anasema: Hatoi hata shilingi kumi kwa ajili ya chakula cha watoto, ninahangaika peke yangu mimi. Anayataja baadhi ya mahitaji ya Zuhura kuwa ni, gharama za usafiri wa kuhudhuria kliniki kila mwezi, dawa, vipimo, baiskeli Inaendelea Uk. 8 7

8 Baba umenikimbia kwa kuwa nina VVU! 8 Inatoka Uk 6 kupambana na Ukimwi duniani, alisema Dk Mayer. Tahadhari: Hata hivyo, wataalamu hao walihimiza kuwepo kwa uchunguzi zaidi wa kitafiti ili kujua kama Truvada itafanya kazi vizuri duniani kote.mtaalamu wa Dawa kutoka Taasisi ya Taifa ya Saratani nchini Marekani (NCI), Dk Lauren Wood alilalamika akisema kuwa utafiti huo haukuzingatia matatizo ya figo. Alisema matatizo ya figo yamekuwa yakijitokeza kwa waathirika wengi wa Ukimwi hasa barani Afrika. Mimi sikufurahishwa sana kwa sababu utafiti huu haukuzingatia maeneo ambayo watu wengi wako kwenye hatari ya maambukizi, alisema Dk Wood. Lakini, alisema utafiti uliofanyika nchini Marekani umeonyesha wazi kwamba ni dawa inayoweza kupunguza kwa kiwango kikubwa kasi ya kusambaa kwa VVU. Wataalamu kadha nao walisema pamoja na Truvada kupitishwa na FDA, ni lazima maelezo ya kitaalamu yatolewe kwa madaktari ili wawe na uelewa wa kutosha kuhusu matumizi yake. Mabingwa hao walipendekeza Inatoka Uk. 7 ya kutembelea inayogharimu Tsh 100,000 na chakula. Anatakiwa kuhudhuria kliniki ya moyo, bado nina huyu Arafat, ana mahitaji mengi tu ya shule, anasema. Anazungumza juu ya afya ya Arafat na kusema, anaogopa kwenda kumpima VVU, kwani hatoweza kuhimili majibu mabaya. Kama na Arafat atakuwa ameathirika nitakufa! anainama chini na kujishika kichwa. Sauda, ambaye hana kibarua chochote zaidi ya kutegemea misaada ya ndugu, huwa na jukumu la kumbeba Zuhura kwa saa zote. Zuhura analia kutwa kucha, hapendi kukaa, anataka kubebwa tu, na ni mzito, fikiria mtoto wa miaka sita kushinda naye mgongoni, anasema Anasema, kutokana na jukumu hilo, amepata kijinundu mgongoni kinachoambatana na maumivu makali. Si hayo tu. Sauda halali. Zuhura baada ya kumeza moja ya dawa zake za usiku, basi hulia usiku kucha. Ninakesha nambembeleza usiku wote, hata nikipata usingizi ni kwa saa moja tu, anasema. Sauda anasema, ana uchungu mwingi moyoni mwake kwa mitihani anayopitia, kwani pamoja na maradhi, kutelekezwa, lakini mama yake mzazi yu mgonjwa mahututi. Uchungu nilionao, Mungu anaujua, anamalizia Sauda. Arafat, (9) ni kaka yake Zuhura, pindi utakapokaa katika nyumba hii kwa saa chache tu, basi utayaona mapenzi aliyonayo kwa dada yake. Nilimkuta Arafat akiwa amembeba Zuhura mgongoni, baadaye alianza kumlisha, kisha alimwekea chombo cha kujisaidia na shughuli nyingine nyingi za kumhudumia mdogo wake. Naye Zuhura amuonapo Arafat tu, basi humlilia na kutaka abebwe mgongoni. Ninataka kuwa daktari, nimponye mdogo wangu, anasema Hizo ndizo ndoto za Arafat, na anasema, anatamani aupate udaktari mapema, kwani mdogo wake anateseka. Nataka niwe daktari kwa sababu namuonea huruma Zuhura, kila siku anaumwa, anasema Arafat, akiwa hajui kinachomsumbua Zuhura. Umri wake wa miaka tisa na majukumu ayafanyayo Arafat, havina uwiano, kwamba, wanaotumia kabla ya kuruhusiwa kutembea na wenzi wao bila kondomu lazima wachunguzwe kitaalamu ili wajulikane kama dawa iyo imewakubali au la. Mwanasayansi kutoka Chuo Kikuu cha Afya cha Cincinnati, Dk Judith Feinberg alikosoa ripoti ya uchunguzi akisema ilipaswa kwenda mbali zaidi katika kuchunguza madhara yanayoweza kujitokeza kwenye matumizi ya dawa hiyo. Tusipokuwa makini katika hilo, tunaweza tukawa tumepitisha jambo ambalo litasababisha madhara zaidi kuliko faida, alionya Dk Feinberg. Utafiti wa ARV: Wanasayansi kutoka Chuo Kikuu cha Johns Hopkins ni miongoni mwa wale ambao walifanya uchunguzi juu ya ARV, kuwa moja ya dawa zinazopunguza maambukizi ya VVU. Watafiti hao walibainisha kuwa wale wanaotumia ARV baada ya muda fulani, huweza kushiriki tendo la ndoa bila ya kutumia kondomu na mtu ambaye hana VVU na asimwambukize kwa asilimia 95. Mkuu wa Mtandao wa Maabara za Kuchunguza VVU katika chuo hicho, Profesa Susan Eshleman alisema kwenye ripoti ya ugunduzi huo, wamebaini dawa za kurefusha maisha kwa waathirika wa HIV, sasa zinaweza kutumika kama sehemu ya kuzuia maambukizi. Profesa Eshleman alisema kwamba, mwathirika wa VVU anayetumia ARV kikamilifu, anaweza kujamiiana na mtu ambaye hana virusi bila kondomu na asimwambukize. Huu ni ugunduzi wa kustajabisha, alisema Profesa Eshleman akifafanua: Matokeo haya yameleta mapambazuko mapya katika sayansi ya kuzuia maambukizi na inawaweka watafiti kwenye mazingira mazuri zaidi ya kupata suluhisho la kukabiliana na maradhi haya. Walivyogundua: Profesa Eshleman anasema utafiti huo walioupa jina la HPTN 052, walifanya kupitia maeneo mbalimbali ya dunia. Kwenye ripoti hiyo ambayo pia ilichapishwa kwenye jarida maarufu la kisayansi linaloitwa Science, watafiti hao walisema lakini yeye anasema anajitoa kama kaka wa familia. Mama hana mwingine wa kumsaidia zaidi yangu, tena nikiwa shule anapata shida kumbeba Zuhura huku anafanya kazi, anasema Arafat, wakati akinisindikiza kituoni. Yahya Mohamed, baba anayedaiwa kuitelekeza familia hii alipopatikana kwa njia ya simu alisema, yeye hajawahi kuitelekeza familia yake ingawa alikiri kuna migogoro kati yake na mke wake. Mimi nipo pamoja nao, ingawa tuliwahi kukorofishana kidogo, lakini sijawahi kuwatelekeza, anasema Yahya. Kuhusu kumtukana mke wake na kumuibia, Yahya anakanusha na kusema hajawahi kutenda jambo kama hilo. Chanzo: Mwananchi Dawa kudhibiti VVU yaanza kutumika rasmi mtu anapotumia ARV, hufikia wakati fulani wingi wa virusi mwilini hupotea kiasi kwamba anakuwa karibu sawa na yule ambaye hajaambukizwa. Jambo la msingi katika utafiti huu ni kwamba dawa hizi za kurefusha maisha zinapotumiwa kikamilifu, hupunguza mzigo wa virusi mwilini kwa zaidi ya mara 200. Ni sawa na kusema inapunguza hadi kufikia karibu na sifuri, inaeleza ripoti hiyo. Ni katika mazingira hayo, ripoti hiyo inasema kuwa damu ya mwathirika inakuwa haina virusi na hivyo uwezekano wa kumuambukiza mpenzi wake unakuwa haupo. Ripoti hiyo inaeleza kuwa ARV inafanya kazi mbili, kwanza kurefusha maisha ya mwathirika kwa kupunguza virusi mwilini na pili ni kumkinga asiambukize wengine. Sifa nyingine ya ARV, alisema ni kupunguza uwezekano wa waathirika kupata ugonjwa wa Kifua Kikuu (TB) kutokana na kiwango cha kinga za mwili kuongezeka. chanzo: Mwananchi