HIV Awareness Campaign in Nyamatongo Ward

In Tanzania, like in most Sub-Saharan African countries, HIV/AIDS is a major public health concern. The worldwide majority of 68% of HIV-positive people live in Sub-Sahara Africa with the highest prevalence in East and Southern Africa. In Tanzania, 1.6 million people are living with the virus, whereby women are more affected than men. In order to address this severe health issue, Cedar Tanzania implements a number of projects in Nyamatongo Ward. Read more about Tackle Africa and our annual event commemorating World AIDS Day

After several community members as well as local leaders approached us to further support the education of the community around HIV/AIDS, we have developed and implemented an awareness campaign from October to December 2019. In collaboration with the Community Health Workers, our Field Officers Jacqueline and Consolatha conducted interactive community dialogues in 14 locations across the whole ward, covering all hamlets. Our aim was to demystify the virus, inform about the transmission and prevention of HIV and offer free testing on-site, provided by Dr Neema from KHC. This should contribute to the overall goal of a more informed and open society which empowers people living with HIV/AIDS.

In total, 547 community members attended the dialogues whereby 325 received Voluntary Counselling and Testing services. In order to understand the increase in knowledge after the dialogues, baseline and endline surveys were conducted.

One of the highest increases were found for the question “Can breast-feeding transmit HIV from mother to child?”. Before the dialogue only 67% of participants knew that indeed, breas-tmilk is among the fluids that transmits HIV. After the dialogue, 89% knew the correct answer. Additionally, the community learned that HIV cannot be transmitted through mosquito bites, saliva, shaking hands or kissing. Another focus of the dialogue was the prevention of transmission which can be supported by condom use and Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision. Before the dialogue, only 61% of participants knew that Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision reduces the risk of contracting HIV. After the dialogue, this number increased to 87%. Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision is offered at KHC and is proved to reduce the risk of female-to-male transmission by 60% (Source: unaids.org).

Moreover, the community was informed about the fact that, once infected with HIV, it is more likely to contract other diseases. The scores increased from 77% to 89%. The community learned that antiretroviral treatment can increase life expectancy of an HIV-positive person significantly and that the treatment is available free of charge at KHC.

All in all, the results were really encouraging as, on average, 84% correct answers were given after the dialogues. The knowledge of participants increased significantly in all areas: transmission, prevention, intimate partner relations as well as HIV-positive status. Nevertheless, we need to continue our efforts in the fight against HIV and are currently exploring additional methods to reach even more community members. If you want to support us in this endeavour Take Action

Happy 2nd Birthday!

January 18th 2018 was a very special day for Kamanga Health Centre and the whole Nyamatongo Ward. Two years ago the Regional Commissioner Mr. Mongella together with the Country Director and Founder of Cedar Tanzania, Mark O’Sullivan, stood shoulder to shoulder with Chris Eskdale, Friends of Cedar Tanzania board member, and declared Kamanga Health Centre ‘Open!’ The health centre soon after began serving the community of Nyamatongo Ward, with an approximate population of 30,000 people.

In the last two years Kamanga Health Centre has experienced many joys, such as the acquisition of the neonatal resuscitation table which was purchased with donations from Cedar Tanzania supporters, the installation of solar power panels, and the establishing of Kamanga Health Centre as a volunteer destination for European medical staff.  Paulina Urassa, the Director of Health Programmes is still at the helm, and the biggest challenge she faces is working within the line of the private-public partnership between Kamanga Health Centre and Sengerema District Council. But in spite of this challenge the figures coming from Kamanga Health Centre over the last two years are encouraging indeed. By the end of 2018, 4,607 new patients had registered at the health centre for the first time and exactly one year later in 2019, 6,546 new patients had joined the health centre. This was an increase of 142%. By the end of 2018, 201 babies were born at the health centre and by December 2019 517 babies were born resulting in an increase of 257% of births in the last two years. The top three diagnosed illnesses changed slightly from upper respiratory infections, UTIs and non severe pneumonia in 2018 to non severe pneumonia, UTIs and a surprising increase in severe cases of malaria in 2019. The reduction of governmental disinfection of high mosquito populated agricultural lands has been suspected to be the reason for such a high rise in figures of severe malaria cases in 2019. 

Cedar Tanzania is proud to say that two years on Kamanga Health Centre is still striving to bring high levels of heath care to the villages in Nyamatongo Ward.