Dar es Salaam: On July 16, representatives from the United States Government and the Government of Tanzania participated in a virtual conference where they discussed achievements and next steps for health systems strengthening in Tanzania, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Community Health and Social Welfare Systems Strengthening Program (CHSSP). 

CHSSP used a systems strengthening approach in line with the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief goals to assist the Government of Tanzania to control the HIV epidemic. 

A six-year $36 million activity, CHSSP trained over 18,000 community case workers, and built the capacity of 49 local civil society organizations. CHSSP also revitalized thousands of local government community structures across the country to be better able to identify most at-risk populations, get them tested, link them into care, and retain them on treatment.

As a result of these interventions, the activity reached over 1 million individuals in 106 councils of Tanzania to receive HIV testing, of which 90% who tested positive were started on HIV treatment. Over 700,000 vulnerable children and their families are now linked to life saving health and social welfare services. These are tangible results that directly contribute towards the 90-90-90 goals to ending the HIV epidemic (90% of all people living with HIV will know their status; 90% of all people diagnosed with HIV infection will receive sustained antiretroviral therapy; 90% of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy will have viral suppression).

During the virtual closeout conference, USAID Mission Director to Tanzania, Andrew Karas, said “The United States stands with the people of Tanzania in their commitment to continue to build local community health systems and to end the spread of HIV. With continued partnership and collaboration in prevention, care, and treatment alike, we will achieve the goal of an AIDS-free generation.”

To request more information, please call the U.S. Embassy Dar es Salaam Press Office at Tel: +255 22 229-4000 or email: DPO@state.gov.