Public Health in Tanzania - Essay Example

Running Head: Analysis of Public Health in Combating HIV in Tanzania Public Health Name Course Lecturer Date Public Health in Tanzania and Reduction HIV/AIDS HIV and AIDS remains one of the most vital public health issues in Tanzania and the sub-Sahara Africa. It is obvious that the promoting effective interventions that would decrease the rate of infections and control the epidemic are major priority of the public health in Tanzania. This epidemic is a major concern that has continued to be addressed by various national and global commitments, as reflected in the Millennium Developments Goals, Tanzania Vision 2025, of Primary Health Services Development Programs (Fleming & Parker, 2009). The past decade has continued to witness primary changes in this approach to the public health challenges. The main goal of the public health sector in Tanzania is to achieve greater equity in health by reducing the rate of HIV infections and spread and reducing morbidity in the populations. In attaining this goal, the public health sector has continued to modify its programs in accordance to the rising needs of the population. Indeed, effectively addressing inequalities in the health sector does not only involve the intervention of new sets of strategies but also modification to the way the programs are organized and operate. In addition, the redefinition of what comprises the public health intervention (Gunn et al., 2007). In order for the public health to be effective in creating a positive change in the intervention of HIV/AIDS, it needs to collaborate with different bodies that are spearheading reduction of infection in the sub-Saharan Africa. This will indeed results to greater campaigns in the country which will definitely lead to a decline in the HIV/AIDs reported cases. It is important to note the public health care system in Tanzania is entirely based on a referral system. This system extends from the national hospitals which are specialized through the regional and the districts hospitals to the local clinics or dispensaries. One major blow that is affecting the public health system is the chronic personnel shortages. With the slow increase of infection rates of HIV/AIDS, the public health systems is undergoing a tremendous change in order to effectively and efficiently handle the situation. Indeed, there are various strategies that the public health system has continued to lay in order to counter the epidemic. This has proven their readiness to maintain a successful change in this area. Various strategies discussed in this paper portray readiness of the public health sector (McCree & O’Leary, 2010). According to World Health Organization (2010) the public health system in Tanzania has a launched a national HIV/AIDS treatment and care program. The sector has also laid strategies ton increase HIV services healthcare facilities. As a result the number of patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) has risen as well. This program received a boost from the International Center for AIDS Care and Treatment Programs (ICAP), School of Public Health. ICAP is working together with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in order to establish a broader capacity of HIV/AIDS services both at the local and national levels. ICAP has provided a range of financial and technical support including renovations of laboratories and clinics, infrastructure development, provision of clinical training, supportive supervision, equipment and establishment and maintenance of programs and services to enhance the enrollment, adherence and follow-up of patients. ICAP activities are comprehensive and are basically designed to create sustainable programs such as strengthening the capacity of human resources including mentoring and training health care workers and helping all districts in creating and maintaining HIV/AIDS program s; supporting HIV/AIDS services for adult and children, including testing and counseling, preventing mother to child transmission , adherences support systems and prophylaxis for various opportunistic infections; creating specialty services such as care services for the infected patients, diagnosis of early infection among the children and management of the malignancies that are related to HIV; designing services that are supportive to the patients such as computerization of patients records. ICAP has continued to support the health program at the district level by bringing the HIV /AIDS programs services to the remote areas of the country. The patients have continued to receive treatment and counseling from the local clinics and dispensaries. In addition, ICAP is supporting the government in decentralizing the services from the districts hospital to the local clinics in the rural areas. Indeed, with such combined efforts the public health system in the country is working to establish a successful change in the intervention of HIV/AIDS issue. However, the system need to widen these established efforts to assist the people living in the urban areas. This will also decrease the rate of infection in the country. Stigma related to HIV/AIDS is one of the main challenges facing the control and prevention of the epidemic in the country. As in other sub-Saharan countries, stigma against HIV/AIDS in Tanzania is strong and does play a key role in fuelling the rate of HIV infection. The stigma is mainly attributed to the fact that most people believe that the infection is as a result of sexual behavior that is regarded as promiscuous behavior. To worsen the situation, stigma results to denial and secrecy that hinders openness on HIV. Such people are not able to seek assistance leading hundreds of thousands healthy looking infected people spreading the infections to others who are uninfected. Public health agencies are expected to perform activities such as empower individuals about their health, develop plans and policies in support of the community, mobilize the community in solving health problems and carry out research to get innovative solution to the health problems (United Nations Secretary General, 2010). TACAIDS (2008) asserts that in response to this challenge, the public health is seen to create seminars and workshops in areas that have a high infection rate. In doing so, it is in a position to educate the citizens on the need to undergo testing and counseling of HIV. The sector has continued to train various groups mainly in the rural areas of various issues surrounding HIV/AIDS such women and youth groups. Positive results have been seen so far. For instance, the training programs that have been introduced in learning institution have enabled the students to be enlightened on issues concerning HIV/AIDS. In addition, various campaigns have been carried out in schools and among the young generation. The media has been an effective tool in educating people. The media has also been part of the campaigns team in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. In addition, the media have been used in addressing behaviors that lead to increase in infection. This is done through educative programs. Indeed, infected people have continued to be part of these campaigns and have formed organizations that are seeking to sensitize the population on various issues that are related to HIV/AIDS. These organizations are also assisting the already affected people in seeking medical care and carrying on with their daily activities. However, the organizations do face financial problems despite the support from the government. At this point, the donors are able to chip in their support to assist the groups to continue with their programs in collaboration with the public sectors (United Nations Secretary General, 2010). The public health has laid strategy in which it has collaborated with the community. Primarily, the increased rate of infections has had a profound effect on the community. Therefore, this partnership will greatly assist the public health sector in controlling and preventing the spread. It is obvious that the prevention of HIV did develop from a community based tradition. The public health plans have included and cultivated communities as advocates, owner and allies of the HIV/AIDS as they want to move to the upper level of community involvement and prevention. In supporting the community based initiatives and organizations through financials and other support, the public health will have moved a mile in preventing and controlling the spread of infection. It is important to note that the sector has note that as much as money is a powerful in implementing the program, it is not the only way to carry out the activities. There is a need to create community advisory boards and prevention planning groups that will integrate the HIV/AIDS concerns and issues (Heaton & Falola, 2007). It has been noted that the young people are at a higher risk in contacting the disease in the community. It is obvious that at their young age, the young people are said to be sexually active. It response to this the public health sector have made it easier for the young people to get access to sexual health services. However, the fact that this program has been mostly carried in out in the urban areas, does not fully cover the young people living in the rural areas. Indeed, the sector should collaborate with other NGOs healthcare, private and public providers (Fleming & Parker, 2009). Mother to child infection is a major channel through which HIV/AIDS is spread. In the sub-Saharan Africa countries has been a major challenge especially in the rural areas. One reasons for this widespread is lack of good health facilities at the local clinic or dispensaries. Pregnant women in the rural areas lack correct information concerning their natal health issues. However, in Tanzania the public health sector have laid some strategies that will reduce this. With the government support, there is continued practical ways of eliminating new infection in new-born children. Various approaches that have been seen include; setting national targets that are meant to eliminate HIV among children using national treatment and preventive protocols; prevent infection among women of the age of child bearing; control and prevent unintended pregnancies among women who are already infected; prevent transmission from mothers living with HIV to their infants and offering particular early treatment and basic care for mothers living with HIV, their families and children (Pizer & Mayer, 2009). The public health may work together with UNICEF in order to establish better health care to children living with HIV. UNICEF and WHO will provide technical support and guidance for the quick expansion of comprehensive and integrated services for prevention of transmission of HIV and will supervise progress towards achieving a country free oh HIV infections in children; promote provider-initiated counseling of couples in maternal, antenatal and child health services and supporting evaluation and implementation of guidelines that have been laid by WHO. In reducing co-morbidities and co-infections among individuals living with HIV, the public health sector should include care and treatment programs that include prophylaxis, diagnosis and treatment of various common opportunistic co-morbidities and infections. The sector has been carrying out diagnosis and treatment of diarrhea, pneumonia, viral hepatitis, malnutrition and malaria that are serious conditions for individuals living with (HIV Ministry of Education, Tanzania Mainland 2007). Prevention strategies have also been on the rise in Tanzania in the public sectors. According to Beyrer & Celentano (2008) protective measures have continued to be advocated. For instance, circumcision among the male population has been an effective intervention in controlling the epidemic. Compelling evidence has been obtained that circumcision does reduce men’s risk of getting infected with HIJV/AIDS through sexual intercourse by a half. In addition, clinical trial have indicated that men who are circumcised are less likely to be infected with HIV in a given trial period. Therefore, the sector has been on the forefront in campaigning for circumcision among men in the society. In this, it has collaborated with the community in ensuring that the process is done in an effective and hygienic way as this is one of the ways that the disease is spread. Essentially, with increase rate of HIV infection in Tanzania, there is a need for the public health sector in the country to lay strategies that will have a successful impact in the reduction of HIV infection. Indeed, the public health system has had some strategies that have indicated readiness of the sector in reducing, preventing and controlling the rate of infection. However, there is a need for the sector to collaborate with other health stakeholders and community in order to have an effective strategy in combating HIV/AIDS in Tanzania. Reference Beyrer, C & Celentano, D. (2008). Public Health Aspects of HIV/AIDS in Low and Middle Income Countries. New York: Wiley Fleming, M. & Parker, E. (2009). Introduction to Public Health. Chatswood: Elsevier Health Sciences Gunn, W., Mansourian, P. & Davies, A. (2007). Understanding the global dimensions of health. New York: Springer Heaton, M & Falola, T. (2007). HOIV/AIDS, and African Well-being. London: Rochester Press McCree, H. & O’Leary, A. (2010) African Americans and HIV/AIDS: Understanding and Addressing the Epidemic. London: Springer Ministry of Education, Tanzania Mainland (2007). ‘HIV and AIDS MoE Focal Point Survey Organization. Pizer, H. & Mayer, K. (2009). HIV Prevention: A Comprehensive Approach. London: Wiley TACAIDS (2008). ‘Tanzania HIV/AIDS and Malaria Indicator Survey 2007-2008 United Nations Secretary General, (2010) Global strategy for women’s and children’s health. New York, United Nations. World Health Organization, (2010). Global strategy to reduce harmful use of alcohol. Geneva, World Health Read More

ICAP activities are comprehensive and are basically designed to create sustainable programs such as strengthening the capacity of human resources including mentoring and training health care workers and helping all districts in creating and maintaining HIV/AIDS program s; supporting HIV/AIDS services for adult and children, including testing and counseling, preventing mother to child transmission , adherences support systems and prophylaxis for various opportunistic infections; creating specialty services such as care services for the infected patients, diagnosis of early infection among the children and management of the malignancies that are related to HIV; designing services that are supportive to the patients such as computerization of patients records.

ICAP has continued to support the health program at the district level by bringing the HIV /AIDS programs services to the remote areas of the country. The patients have continued to receive treatment and counseling from the local clinics and dispensaries. In addition, ICAP is supporting the government in decentralizing the services from the districts hospital to the local clinics in the rural areas. Indeed, with such combined efforts the public health system in the country is working to establish a successful change in the intervention of HIV/AIDS issue.

However, the system need to widen these established efforts to assist the people living in the urban areas. This will also decrease the rate of infection in the country. Stigma related to HIV/AIDS is one of the main challenges facing the control and prevention of the epidemic in the country. As in other sub-Saharan countries, stigma against HIV/AIDS in Tanzania is strong and does play a key role in fuelling the rate of HIV infection. The stigma is mainly attributed to the fact that most people believe that the infection is as a result of sexual behavior that is regarded as promiscuous behavior.

To worsen the situation, stigma results to denial and secrecy that hinders openness on HIV. Such people are not able to seek assistance leading hundreds of thousands healthy looking infected people spreading the infections to others who are uninfected. Public health agencies are expected to perform activities such as empower individuals about their health, develop plans and policies in support of the community, mobilize the community in solving health problems and carry out research to get innovative solution to the health problems (United Nations Secretary General, 2010).

TACAIDS (2008) asserts that in response to this challenge, the public health is seen to create seminars and workshops in areas that have a high infection rate. In doing so, it is in a position to educate the citizens on the need to undergo testing and counseling of HIV. The sector has continued to train various groups mainly in the rural areas of various issues surrounding HIV/AIDS such women and youth groups. Positive results have been seen so far. For instance, the training programs that have been introduced in learning institution have enabled the students to be enlightened on issues concerning HIV/AIDS.

In addition, various campaigns have been carried out in schools and among the young generation. The media has been an effective tool in educating people. The media has also been part of the campaigns team in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. In addition, the media have been used in addressing behaviors that lead to increase in infection. This is done through educative programs. Indeed, infected people have continued to be part of these campaigns and have formed organizations that are seeking to sensitize the population on various issues that are related to HIV/AIDS.

These organizations are also assisting the already affected people in seeking medical care and carrying on with their daily activities. However, the organizations do face financial problems despite the support from the government. At this point, the donors are able to chip in their support to assist the groups to continue with their programs in collaboration with the public sectors (United Nations Secretary General, 2010).

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