Despite government initiatives and policies to raise public awareness on the HIV/Aids pandemic in the country, only 60 per cent of the population has some knowledge on the disease.
The remaining 40 per cent is completely unaware, thus posing a big challenge to various efforts aimed at reducing new HIV/Aids infections.
Tanzania Commission for Aids (TACAIDS) Communications Officer, Ms Glory Mziray, said in Dar es Salaam that the commission currently directs more efforts to rural areas where disease’s knowledge is minimal.
She said the war against HIV/AIDS could only be completely won after the entire population became aware of the causes and ways to prevent infections.
“We are now working diligently to ensure that we improve HIV/Aids awareness amongst the people, both in urban and rural areas. Through this the country will easily win the war against this lethal illness,” Ms Mziray noted.
She said TACAIDS, in collaboration with the government, had been focusing more on regions where HIV infections were seen to be increasing.
According to the 2011/2012 Tanzania HIV and Malaria Indicator Survey Results (THMIS), Njombe Region has the highest infection rate, followed by Iringa (9.1), Mbeya (9), Ruvuma (7) and Dar es Salaam (6.9), while Pemba (0.3) is the least affected, followed by Unguja (1.2).
Meanwhile, TACAIDS has awarded three top journalists from community-based radios who won in a competition organised by the commission to disseminate information on HIV/Aids issues.
Ms Glory said they deployed use of the media outlets after realizing that they have direct connection with the surrounding communities, thus making them effective tools for informing the public.
Those who won are Mama Afrika from Radio Maria, Ruvuma (2m/-), Ms Elisia Isabula from TBC central zone (1.5m/-) and Ms Winniefrida Celestine from Radio Kwizera in Kigoma (1m/-)
By CHRISTOPHER MAJALIWA, Tanzania Daily News
