Children and AIDS
Children, adolescents, women and key populations continue to be disproportionately affected.
Context
Tanzania has made progress in slowing the spread of HIV and reducing AIDS deaths, yet the number of people living with HIV is large and growing, and children, adolescents, and young women are especially vulnerable. Harmful social norms and practices, including stigma, contribute to their vulnerability. Children and adolescents who are living with HIV, especially teenage girls, are often excluded from their communities, which deprives them of education and work-related opportunities.
As a result, teenagers and women are particularly affected, leading to high rates of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Policies and systems for HIV prevention, treatment, and care have improved in recent years, however as global HIV guidelines evolve rapidly, national capacity to also adapt is constrained. Poor integration of HIV services into the health system and limited quality of health care impedes HIV diagnosis and treatment, especially affecting paediatric and adolescent HIV and SRHR services. Rapid improvements are needed in systems, policies, and programmes for HIV prevention, treatment, and care.
UNICEF in action
UNICEF aims to accelerate the end of AIDS by ensuring that more children, adolescents, and vulnerable pregnant and breastfeeding girls and women can access high-quality and equitable HIV prevention, treatment, and care services. UNICEF advocates for fair policies, sustainable financing, and improved capacity for HIV and sexual and reproductive health programmes.
UNICEF works with government systems to enhance the quality of services and information in communities, schools, and health facilities. Priority is be given to gender-transformative programmes that address inequalities and harmful norms, particularly for adolescent girls and young women. Empowering adolescents and youth is a key focus, and partnerships with the private sector and donors are emphasized.