Tanzania: Right signals as HIV tests rise, maternal deaths drop

DEUS NGOWI in Longido

HEALTH initiatives undertaken by the World Vision Tanzania (WVT) here have attracted local people to undergo voluntary HIV testing and counselling, as well as reduced maternal deaths.

Speaking in Kitumbeine Division here, stakeholders said these developments were outcomes of pastoral communities changing their traditional ways of life considerably.

The WVT Northern Zone Health Project Coordinator, Ms Lucy Kyungu, said the Kitumbeine Project had led to an increase of pregnant women who sought medical services at dispensaries from 0.02 per cent last year to 1.7 per cent so far this year.

World Vision started engagement activities to sensitize locals to seek health services from dispensaries instead of relying on outdated and unsafe traditions and the response had been remarkable, as many people had changed their mindsets.

Ms Kyungu explained of deaths of pregnant women by 0.03 among every 300 women. WVT in conjunction with stakeholders initiated a campaign to have the people voluntarily go for health check-up, specifically HIV.

“The push has yielded results, as the response of people volunteering for HIV testing and counselling is huge. Those who test positive enrolled for periodic drug supply, and they often return for further counselling, ensuring they remain healthy and carry out economic activities as usual,” said Ms Kyungu.

Through the project, said the coordinator, construction of Losirwa Dispensary has been completed, solar power has been installed and an assortment of medical equipments has been bought.

“World Vision procured medical equipment for five public- owned dispensaries in Kitumbeine Division and conducted capacity building training for health care givers on mother and child health.

“Special emphasis was placed on curbing HIV infections from mother to child especially during delivery. The project has been sensitizing the public to avoid female genital mutilation and child marriages that have been the main sources of HIV infections and deaths before or during delivery as girl children get pregnant at a tender age,” said Ms Kyungu.

WVT has also been supporting the locals in modern agricultural and livestock keeping projects aimed at assuring that they get healthy meals, especially children under the age of five.

Ms Kyungu further explained that the project had so far donated 200 bulls to 200 groups and supported people to establish vegetable and fruit gardens as well as maize fields through irrigation.

“Some 252 farmers are beneficiaries of this project as they have been given quality maize seeds and as a result they harvested approximately eight bags per hectare despite the bad weather,” said Ms Kyungu.

She explained that this time round, WVT expected to reach 500 farmers to whom quality maize seeds would be supplied, adding that positive public response was good.

The Longido District Community Development Officer, Mr Lotta ole Jacob, said HIV effects are huge but the intervention by WVT had been very helpful. She called for establishment of a fund to support affected families from all 18 wards of the district.

“We have been affected by HIV in different ways but the truth is that only a few people are affected. I call upon leaders from the 18 wards of the district to establish the fund to support these people,” he said.