Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE Parliamentary Committee on AIDs, Tuberculosis and Drugs has highly commended Rukwa region for impressive record on fight against HIV infections.
The region’s prevalence rate of HIV infection has declined from 6.2 per cent in 2011/12 to 4.4 per cent in 2016/17.
The committee’s chairperson, Fatma Hassan Toufiq, praised the region on Tuesday when she contributing her views during a meeting held here that attracted senior civil servants and various stakeholders.
Initially, the Rukwa Regional Medical Officer (RMO) Dr Boniface Kasululu told the gathering that the impressive record on fight against HIV infection was made possible due to cooperation and funding from Walter Reeds through its implementing partner the Henry Jackson Foundation Medical Research International (HJFMRI).
He said the region recorded 34,000 people living with HIV/AIDs in the region among them 28,000 equivalent to 95 percent have been put under ARVs treatment.
Equally, Dr Kasululu disclosed that 34,549 men have undergone medical circumcision voluntarily against target of circumcising 35,999 men, being a strategic effort to fight the HIV infection.
Contributing, Special Seats Mp Jaqueline Msongozi counseled women to refrain from having sex with uncircumcised men to protect themselves from cervix cancer as well as HIV infection and other related sexually transmitted diseases
“I’m calling upon women in Rukwa region and across the country to make sure that their partners are circumcised “she appealed.
On his part, the Regional Administrative Secretary (RAS), Mr Denis Bandisa, commended members of parliamentary committee on AIDs, Tuberculosis and Drugs for visiting the region to see how health services are offered to people with HIV/AIDs, among other diseases.
He assured members of the parliamentary committee that the regional authorities will implement directives they had issued during their two day tour in the region.
