The United States government celebrates five years of improving the quality of HIV, TB, and family planning health services through USAID Boresha Afya North-Central and Southern Zone activities

Dodoma - November 11, 2021 - Representatives from the United States government and the government of Tanzania celebrated the achievements of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Boresha Afya (“Better Health”) North-Central and Southern Zone activities. Through strong collaboration and enduring partnership with the government of Tanzania, the $222 million dollar, five-year Boresha Afya activities improved health outcomes for millions of Tanzanians in 12 regions across the country.

HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis (TB) are among the leading causes of illness, disability, and death in Tanzania. The lack of access to maternal/child health and family planning services for Tanzanian citizens, especially for women and adolescents, also contributes to poor health. Too many Tanzanians are unable to access high quality, inclusive health services, with limited coordination between facilities and communities resulting in inadequate support for patients. 

Over the last five years, the Boresha Afya activities employed dynamic and innovative solutions to address these challenges. The activities’ primary objectives were to increase the availability of- and improve access to- quality health services at the community level. To achieve its objectives, the activities combined HIV services with sexual/reproductive health, TB, and family planning services, and coordinated between health service providers, and communities. 

As a result of the Boresha Afya activities, over 8.3 million Tanzanians received HIV testing services of which nearly 340 thousand learned their HIV positive status. All HIV positive patients were enrolled on life saving antiretroviral treatment. Furthermore, Boresha Afya reached over 10 million clients through the provision of family planning outreach services.

Speaking at the event, USAID Mission Director V. Kate Somvongsiri addressed the guest of honor, Minister of the President’s Office for Regional Administration and Local Government, Ummy Mwalimu. “Honorable Minister, we hope the achievements highlighted in this meeting will encourage your ministry to maintain an enabling environment that will continue to support an integrated approach to health services delivery for all Tanzanians so that these achievements can be sustained.”

For more information about this press release, please contact the U.S. Embassy Tanzania Press Office at DPO@state.gov.

###