Strong Data, Local Relationships: The Future of HIV Care in Tanzania Starts Here

By Margarite Nathe, Principal Editor/Writer, IntraHealth International ; Lucy Mphuru, Country Director& Project Director, Tohara Plus Project Lucy Mphuru (center left) talks with health workers and clients at an IntraHealth-supported mobile clinic in Shinyanga that provides voluntary male circumcision services. Photo by Trevor Snapp for IntraHealth International.November 26, 2019Lucy Mphuru has a big job.Every day, she and her team at IntraHealth International in Tanzania work with frontline health workers and government partners to improve health services in a country of 58 million—1.6 million of whom live with HIV.In 2018, there were 72,000 new HIV infections in Tanzania, and 24,000 people died from AIDS-related causes. The country hasa way to go toward its 90-90-90 goals—gender inequality and stigma against people who live with HIV make this work much tougher.But Mphuru and her team are getting results.This year alone, they’ve reached over 450,000 men.In the seven lake regions, they’ve partnered with the Government of Tanzania to provide voluntary medical male circumcision services (VMMC), which lower men’s risk of acquiring HIV through heterosexual sex byaround 60%. Since 2016, they’ve boosted VMMC access and uptake by over 200% and decreased the cost per client by nearly 40%.This year alone, they’ve reached over 450,000 men with VMMC services.Mphuru sat down with us to answer three questions about how her team is shap...
Source: IntraHealth International - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Tags: HIV & AIDS Community Engagement Leadership and Governance World AIDS Day Health Workforce Systems Source Type: news