DAR ES SALAAM, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Tanzania Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS) has announced new measures to curb HIV infections among young people, including expanding testing services, strengthening prevention education, and increasing the use of technology.
TACAIDS Executive Director Adam Mrisho made the remarks on Thursday during a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and HIV/AIDS held in the capital, Dodoma.
Mrisho said about 90,000 community health workers would receive training to provide HIV prevention and self-testing services, particularly to people in rural areas.
The initiative is part of government efforts to reduce new HIV infections and achieve the goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, he said.
"The commission is committed to ensuring that education reaches communities to encourage people to test and promote the use of medication among those diagnosed with HIV," Mrisho said.
He added that TACAIDS would strengthen cooperation with the private sector and improve 32 knowledge centers that provide HIV prevention education, testing and antiretroviral services.
The centers will also target young people, including long-distance truck drivers, who are among groups requiring greater access to HIV information and services, said Mrisho.
Palamagamba Kabudi, minister of state in the Prime Minister's Office responsible for policy, parliament, coordination and persons with disabilities, called for stronger multi-sectoral cooperation and greater use of domestic financing in the HIV response.
He urged authorities to bring services closer to communities and strengthen technology-based interventions, particularly for young people and women.
Johannes Lukumay, chairperson of the parliamentary committee, urged the government to intensify voluntary testing and HIV education in workplaces, transport corridors and regions with high infection rates. ■