The Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office responsible for Coordination, Policy and Parliament Mr.Kaspa Mmuya visited NACOPHA Dar es salaam Offices in June 2021 to meet with NACOPHA Board Members, and to learn and get clear understanding of HEBU TUYAJENGE Project and other NACOPHA engagements in order to strengthen collaboration between NACOPHA and the Government towards national and global targets of 95-95-95.
The Permanent Secretary expressed his appreciation on the existing collaboration and NACOPHA’s efforts in coordination of PLHIV and its meaningful engagement with PLHIV organizations and representatives in HIV response around the country.
During the deliberations NACOPHA Board Chairperson requested the Government to strengthen provision of education to the community at large to eradicate stigma and discrimination, increase Viral Load (VL) machines to address prolonged results turnaround time; set up a National Health Insurance Scheme for PLHIV; scale up youth friendly services and improve coordination among all health Implementing Partners (IP’s working in the community on HIV response to work through PLHIV structures.
In his response, the Deputy Permanent Secretary said that the Government is committed to end all forms of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), and stigma & discrimination; to support the engagement of Faith and Community leaders, to work with PO-RALG in coordinating IPs to work through PLHIV structures, improving access to VL machine and requested NACOPHA to come up bigger innovative strategies for economic support where the government would look on how to support NACOPHA so as to generate its own income and support its programs.
He visited the PLHIV groups showcase and witnessed products from their economic activities, accompanied by representatives from Regional Commissioners Office, Regional Medical officer, representatives from municipal Councils, PLHIV Clusters from Dar es salaam and Coastal regions.
Mr. Kaspa Mmuya acknowledged USAID’s continued support in HIV response in Tanzania.
