By Friday Simbaya, Mbeya
Njombe, Iringa and Mbeya regions are mentioned as being a more serious infection of the HIV virus in the country because of a great influx of people caused by economic activities.
This was said yesterday by the Coordinator of the Tanzania Commission to control AIDS (TACAIDS) Mbeya, Edwin Mweleka, when he was Guest of Honour at the identification of project involvement of people living with HIV and AIDS 'Our voice' supported by USAID.
Mweleka said Njombe Region is leading and that the transmission reached 14.8 percent, followed by Iringa with 9.1 percent and Mbeya occupies third place with a 9 percent, which he said that the project of 'Our voice' will help reduce infection.
"We are glad for the help from our fellow American to finance this project our voice (Sauti Yetu) through their organization of USAID, and I believe in our regions with a high prevalence this project will be a great help in reducing transmission," he said.
"Regions of the Southern Highlands are leading with infection and Njombe leads the national with 14.8 percent followed by Iringa with 9.1 percent while Mbeya we finished third with 9 percent, so the campaign will be driven through 'Voices our 'we expect to help us reduce the transmission to achieve Three Zero, "insisted Mweleka.
Mweleka said that Mbeya and Iringa regions have not been from a list of three regions with the highest prevalence since the surveys began t in the years 2003/2004.
the Chairperson of the Council of People living with HIV In, Justine Mwinuka, said that the project is implemented in 46 district councils priority nationwide while Mbeya there three councils implementing the project which are Mbeya City Council, Mbeya Rural District and Mbarali.
He said that people who focused on the project are those living with HIV and TB who are claiming that these diseases have a direct relationship.
He said that the project is presented to the coordinators of Aids activities at Council level with executives of councils of people living with HIV District Levels.
For her part, the Project Manager of the 'Our Voice', Rachel Jacob, said that only challenges facing people living with HIV currently is self stigma that causes which made them to live with anxiety at all times.
She said the main objective of the project is to give impetus to the social checkups from family to national level so that everyone can know their health status and those found with infection could start medication.
Jacob said that the project started its implementation in October 2015 and will be completed in October 2019.
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MIKOA ya Njombe, Iringa na Mbeya imetajwa kuwa ndio mikoa yenye maambukizi makubwa zaidi ya Virusi vya Ukimwi (VVU) nchini kutokana na kuwa na mwingiliano mkubwa wa watu unaosababishwa na shughuli mbalimbali za kiuchumi.
Hayo yalisemwa jana na Mratibu wa Tume ya kudhibiti Ukimwi (Tacaids) Mkoa wa Mbeya, Edwin Mweleka, wakati alipokuwa Mgeni Rasmi kwenye utambulisho wa Mradi wa ushirikishaji wa wananchi wanaoishi na virusi vya Ukimwi wa ‘Sauti yetu’ unaofadhiriwa na wananchi wa Marekani kuipitia Shirika la USAID.
Mweleka alisema kuwa Mkoa wa Njombe ndio unaoongoza na kwamba maambukizi yamefikia asilimia 14.8, ukifuatiwa na Iringa wenye asilimia 9.1 na Mbeya unashika nafasi ya tatu ukiwa na asilimia 9, ambapo alisema kuwa mradi huo wa ‘Sauti yetu’ utasaidia kupunguza maambukizi hayo.
“Tunashukuru wenzetu wa Marekani kwa kutusaidia kufadhili Mradi huu wa Sauti yetu kupitia shirika lao la USAID, na naamini kwa mikoa yetu hii yenye maambukizi makubwa mradi huu utakuwa msaada mkubwa katika kupunguza maambukizi,” alisema.
“Mikoa ya ukanda wetu wa Nyanda za Juu Kusini ndiyo inayooongoza kwa maambukizi ikiongozwa na Njombe ambao ndio mkoa ambao unaongoza kitaifa wenye asilimia 14.8 ukifuatiwa na Iringa wenye asilimia9.1 huku Mbeya tukishika nafasi ya tatu kwa asilimia 9, hivyo kampeni itakayokuwa inaendeshwa kupitia ‘Sauti yetu’ tunatarajia itusaidie kupunguza maambukizi hayo mpaka kufikia Sifuri Tatu,” alisisitiza Mweleka.
Mweleka alisema kuwa mikoa ya Mbeya na Iringa haijawahi kutoka kwenye orodha ya mikoa mitatu yenye maambukizi makubwa tangu tafiti zilipoanza kufanyika katika miaka ya 2003/2004.
Mwenyekiti wa Baraza la Watu wanaoishi na Virusi vya Ukimwi Nchini, Justine Mwinuka, alisema kuwa mradi huo unatekelezwa katika Halmashauri 46 zilizopewa kipaumbele nchi nzima huku katika Mkoa wa Mbeya zikihusika Halmashauri tatu ambazo ni Mbeya Jiji, Halmashauri ya Wilaya ya Mbeya na Halmashauri ya Wilaya ya Mbarali.
Alisema kuwa watu wanaolengwa kwenye mradi huo ni wale wanaoishi na VVU pamoja na wenye TB kwa madai kuwa magonjwa hayo yana uhusiano wa moja kwa moja.
Alisema kuwa Mradi huu unatambulishwa kwa waratibu wa Ukimwi shughuli za Ukimwi ngazi ya Halmashauri pamoja na watendaji wa mabaraza ya watu wanaoishi na VVU Ngazi za Wilaya (Konga)
Kwa upande wake Meneja wa Mradi huo wa ‘Sauti Yetu’, Rachel Jacob, alisema kuwa changamoto inayowakumba watu wanaoishi na VVU kwa sasa ni unyanyapaa binafsi hali ambayo huwafanya watu hao kuishi kwa wasiwasi wakati wote.
Alisema lengo kubwa la mradi huo ni kutoa hamasa kwa jamii kupima afya zao kuanzia ngazi ya familia mpaka Taifa ili kila mtu aweze kuijua afya yake na wale wanaokutwa na maambukizi waweze kuanzishiwa dawa.
Jacob alisema kuwa Mradi huo ulianza kutekelezwa tangu mwezi Oktoba 2015 na utakamilika mwezi Oktoba mwaka 2019.
