Tanzania has moved closer to meeting the global 95-95-95 HIV targets, with new national data showing strong progress in treatment and viral suppression, although a significant proportion of people living with HIV still do not know their status.
Results from the Tanzania HIV Impact Survey (THIS 2022/2023) show that 82.7 percent of adults living with HIV are aware of their status, while 97.9 percent of those diagnosed are receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART). Among those on treatment, 94.3 percent have achieved viral suppression, reducing the risk of illness and transmission.
The findings were presented on Wednesday by Deputy Minister for Health, Dr Florence Samizi, during talks with the Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Ms Winnie Byanyima, in Dar es Salaam.
The latest figures suggest Tanzania is approaching the internationally agreed 95-95-95 targets, which call for 95 percent of people living with HIV to know their status, 95 percent of those diagnosed to receive life-saving treatment, and 95 percent of those on treatment to achieve viral suppression by 2030.
However, the data also point to the country's biggest remaining challenge. Nearly one in five adults living with HIV have not yet been diagnosed, making expanded testing a critical priority if Tanzania is to meet the global goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat.
"The results show that Tanzania has made significant progress in ensuring people diagnosed with HIV begin treatment promptly and remain on medication," Dr Samizi said.
"The task ahead is to reach those who still do not know their HIV status, particularly young people, adolescent girls and young women."he added
She attributed the progress to sustained collaboration between the government and UNAIDS, saying the partnership has strengthened the country's HIV response, supported the development of a long-term sustainability roadmap and improved preparations for the eighth funding cycle of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
To close the remaining gap, the government is expanding community-based HIV testing, self-testing services, mobile clinics and workplace screening programmes while integrating HIV services with tuberculosis, maternal and child health and other primary healthcare services.
Dr Samizi said authorities are also widening access to HIV prevention through pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), increasing community-based ART delivery, expanding multi-month medicine refills and strengthening the role of community health workers to bring services closer to patients.
She said the approach is designed to improve treatment adherence, reduce pressure on health facilities and ensure more people receive timely care.
Ms Byanyima praised Tanzania for the gains made in preventing new HIV infections and expanding access to testing, treatment and follow-up care.
She said UNAIDS would continue working with the government to strengthen health systems, secure sustainable financing for the HIV response and accelerate progress towards eliminating AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
