BACKGROUND:
For over two decades the government of Tanzania through the MoH/ NACP, PEPFAR and other stakeholders are striving improve access to and quality ART services to approximately 1.6 million people of all walks of life, majority being women and young girls from the lower socio- economic classes. According to the Health Sector Strategic Plan V, Tanzania is on track towards realizing 95:95:95 targets with 99% ART enrolment of those knowing their HIV positive status and 91% viral suppression. Despite that considerable progress, yet much has not been done to support individual challenges encountered by PLHIV including food insecurity, financial constraints, and limited access to health insurance schemes for social protection to mention the few, that directly impact their treatment outcomes and quality of life. HIV/AIDS impoverish PLHIV livelihood as it reduces their productivity, and household income while expenditures increase due to out-of-pocket medical cost. Furthermore, PLHIV have limited information and low abilities to tap economic opportunities that are available in their environment. The need for economic empowerment was also profoundly evidenced by the feedback from PLHIV receiving ART services through community-led monitoring (CLM) initiative, and thus Afya Plus designed “JIPANGE” project which is a tailored economic empowerment initiative which maximize the use of locally led solutions on improving both the economic status and well-being of PLHIV in Bukombe DC, Geita Region.
Good piece of work. Congrats indeed.!