A total of 1,632 young people have been reached with health education through the Jiongeze 360 Bonanza in Tunduru District, Ruvuma Region, as the Government and partners step up efforts to address reproductive health challenges among the youth.
The campaign also provided 615 young people with reproductive health services, HIV testing and nutrition services, giving them access to both information and essential healthcare.
Speaking during the closing ceremony on Friday, August 28, 2026, Tunduru District Administrative Officer Milongo Sanga said investing in the health and development of young people was critical to Tanzania's future.
“Young people constitute a significant part of the country's workforce. Investing in their health and development is therefore an investment in the nation's future,” Mr Sanga said.
The Jiongeze 360 Bonanza focused on issues affecting young people, including HIV prevention, teenage pregnancy, gender-based violence, violence against children, nutrition, mental health, cervical cancer and life skills.
Mr Sanga said the Government had continued to strengthen youth-friendly reproductive health services to ensure young people could access appropriate information and care.
He said the country now had 2,161 health facilities providing youth-friendly reproductive health services, including 122 facilities in Ruvuma Region and five in Tunduru District.
Despite progress at the national level, Mr Sanga said teenage pregnancy remained a major concern in Ruvuma.
He said the national teenage pregnancy rate had declined from 27 per cent in 2016 to 22 per cent in 2022, while Ruvuma recorded an increase from 32 per cent to 37 per cent during the same period.
“This situation demonstrates the need to continue empowering young people with accurate information on reproductive health, family planning, HIV prevention, gender-based violence, nutrition and life skills, while ensuring they know where to access appropriate services,” he said.
Mr Sanga said the Jiongeze 360 initiative was aligned with the national agenda of investing in young people's health and development, as well as Government policies and programmes aimed at improving their wellbeing and enabling them to play a meaningful role in national development.
He urged young people and the wider community to continue seeking health information and services from nearby health facilities and qualified service providers after the conclusion of the campaign.
He also called on development partners and stakeholders in the health sector to maintain collaboration with the Government in strengthening services for young people, particularly in HIV and AIDS, reproductive health, family planning, teenage pregnancy, gender-based violence, non-communicable diseases, mental health and nutrition.
Mr Sanga said sustained investment in these areas would help create a healthier and more productive generation capable of contributing effectively to Tanzania's economic growth and development.