The government has pledged to strengthen the country’s HIV response by improving the delivery of services and deepening collaboration with stakeholders involved in prevention, treatment and support programmes.
Prime Minister’s Office Permanent Secretary responsible for Policy, Parliament, Coordination and Persons with Disabilities, Dr Jim Yonazi, made the commitment during a visit to Nyamagana District in Mwanza Region, where he inspected activities implemented by groups of people living with HIV.
Dr Yonazi said the government was continuing to create a supportive environment for HIV interventions by allocating resources and working with development partners and other stakeholders to improve services.
“Partnership is very important because we believe it has the potential to help us overcome the challenges in the fight against HIV. We have continued to bring our efforts together in this fight,” he said.
He said the Prime Minister’s Office, which coordinates government activities, including the national HIV response, would continue ensuring that essential supplies and services reach people living with HIV on time and meet required standards.
Dr Yonazi also called on Tanzanians to make HIV testing part of their routine health practices, saying knowing one’s status was critical to accessing timely care and preventing further transmission.
He said people who test positive should seek appropriate services early and follow health advice to protect their own health and reduce the risk of transmitting the virus to others.
Mwanza Regional Administrative Secretary Balandya Elikana said the region had strengthened its HIV response through collaboration with health stakeholders and committees implementing prevention strategies.
He said efforts were also being directed towards improving access to quality services and expanding public education on HIV prevention and treatment.
“The community continues to be educated about voluntary HIV testing, the proper use of preventive measures and the importance of working closely with health organisations and other stakeholders to improve prevention and treatment services,” Mr Elikana said.
Mwanza Regional Medical Officer, Dr Kheri Kagya, said the region’s HIV prevalence stood at 4.7 per cent, compared with the national prevalence of 4.4 per cent, according to the Tanzania HIV Impact Survey (THIS) 2022/23.
He said data from the DHIS2 Annual Report for 2025/26 estimated the number of people living with HIV in Mwanza at 112,685.
Dr Kagya said the region and its partners had continued to intensify HIV prevention campaigns, including promoting the correct and consistent use of condoms.
He said 2,265,772 condoms were distributed across Mwanza during the 2025/26 financial year, targeting areas such as guesthouses, bars, entertainment venues and public gatherings.
The figures underscore the scale of the HIV challenge in Mwanza and the need for sustained investment in prevention, testing, treatment and community-based support.
For Tanzania, strengthening coordination between government institutions, health providers, civil society organisations and communities remains critical to reducing new HIV infections and ensuring people living with HIV can access quality services without disruption.
