Abstract #102  -  Zanzibar AIDS Commission continued to enjoy the support of HIV&AIDS stakeholders in improving the national response to HIV&AIDS
Authors:   Presenting Author:   Mr. Kimwaga ALI - ZANZIBAR AIDS COMMISSION
Additional Authors:
Aim: The multi-sectoral national HIV&AIDS response in Zanzibar Is led, managed and coordinated by Zanzibar AIDS Commission (ZAC) which was established in 2002. The Government of Zanzibar adopted the ZNSP 2004/5 - 2008/9. The HIV interventions within the Islands have been geared towards implementing the thematic priority areas of the ZNSP which include HIV Prevention; Impact mitigation; Treatment care and Support; Management and coordination of the national HIV&AIDS response.
Method / Issue: ZAC through the Zanzibar National HIV M&E System generated information on the results of the response. These figures captured are the consolidated results of all the efforts of HIV&AIDS stakeholders including Ministries Departments and Agencies, FBO’s, NGO’s, CBO’s, Individuals, Private Sector businesses and International development partners who are actively participating in reporting by using the national core set of indicators.
Results / Comments: In both Islands, various interventions on management of HIV/AIDS were conducted and the results showed that, compared to the 0.6% HIV prevalence rates among the general population (THMIS, 2008), HIV is concentrated among MARPs with statistics showing HIV prevalence rates of 10.8%, 12.3% and 15.1% among female SW, MSM and IDU respectively (ZACP, 2007). The general HIV prevalence stands at 0.6%; this HIV prevalence has stabilized as compared to 0.6% reported in DHS of 2002. However the HIV prevalence varies among different age groups as stated as 1.1% (Pemba 0.3% and Unguja 0.8%) for age group 15-49 (THMIS, 2008), several HIV prevention activities reached a total of 22,631 young people in and out of public and private schools, however 8.3% (820 teachers out of 9773) teachers trained in life skills based HIV education taught it regularly in the preceding 12 months (MoE, 2009). The total number of BCC materials which were reported distributed among the community amounted to 45,140 and a total amount of 420 hours for radio, and 182 hours for television used. 22,300 schools with active anti AIDS clubs are in place and about 14,615 male condoms and no female condoms were distributed within the communities in Zanzibar (ZHAPMoS, 2008), while within the health facilities a total of 91,825 condoms were distributed to clients during the year 2007/08 (ZACP, 2008). Generally speaking many Zanzibaris are more aware of HIV&AIDS and know how to protect themselves from HIV; more people are coming forward to not only benefit from VCT, ART, PMTCT and HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services, but also to publicly declare their HIV status.
Discussion: Zanzibar AIDS Commission will continue to decentralize the HIV interventions to all levels, and use HIV M&E data to regularly generate and disseminate user friendly information products and advocate for stakeholders to deliberately and consciously use M&E data for decision making, policy advocacy, formulation and resource allocation.
Go Back