Tanzania's escalating HIV epidemic is contributing to the country’s health crisis, as well as high maternal death rates and severe health worker shortages.
AMREF empowers communities and supporting the government at all levels to identify and address major health needs. We have tested half a million people for HIV in a programme that has been adopted and scaled up by the government.
Click here to view a video personal account of a young mother living with HIV in Tanzania
Major health challenges
- More than 2.2 million people are living with HIV/AIDS in Tanzania and an estimated 2 million children have been orphaned as a result of the disease.
- Malaria is one of the biggest killers in Tanzania and accounts for the deaths of 80,000 children under-five every year.
- Tanzania has one of the highest adolescent pregnancy rates in the world. In extreme cases gender-based violence, sexual abuse and female genital mutilation becomes the norm.
AMREF is:
- Encouraging people to get themselves tested for HIV through the Angaza project and reducing the stigma attached to the disease
- Empowering women to recognise their reproductive health rights and be able to openly discuss the issue with their spouses.
- Raising awareness of sexual health issues amongst young people through the Mema Kwa Vijana project, which means ‘Good Things For Young People’.
- Training community health workers to help prevent malaria in Mtwara
- Improving water, sanitation and reproductive health services and reducing childhood illnesses in Mukaranga district.
