TANZANIA: Rising prevalence in Zanzibar needs new approach

Photo: Issa Yussuf/IRIN

Public AIDS messages are rare on the largely Muslim island

STONE TOWN, ZANZIBAR, 13 February 2007 (PlusNews) - HIV prevalence on the semi-autonomous Tanzanian island of Zanzibar is on the rise, prompting officials to call for a more targeted response to HIV/AIDS.

According to government estimates, HIV figures have increased from 0.6 percent in 2002 to 0.9 percent in 2006.

"This is a shocking figure in such a small population. Unfortunately, the most affected group is youths aged between 20 and 49 years," chief minister Shamsi Nahodha said at the recent launch of the first AIDS awareness campaign to target young people.

HIV levels are significantly lower than the 7 percent infection rate on the mainland, but there are concerns that not enough is being done to address AIDS on the island.

Asha Abdallah, director of the Zanzibar AIDS Commission, told PlusNews the new statistics were based on antenatal records, and the commission would be conducting a study later in the year to determine HIV prevalence in the general population.

Nahodha said, "It seems the ongoing strategies to control the spread of HIV have not been productive ... we need to review our strategies."

He said most workshops and seminars about HIV on the island took place in urban areas, and targeted political leaders rather than the youth and the majority of the population, who lived in rural areas. He appealed to the general public to be faithful in marriage, and urged the youth to abstain from sex.

Hundreds of school children attended the colourful launch of the five-year campaign, carrying banners that read, "Youth is a unique part of life - protect it".

Public messages about HIV/AIDS and safer sex are rare on the predominantly Muslim island, but the initiative hopes to do away with the reluctance to openly discuss these issues.

The United States Agency for International Development, Family Health International, a United States-based nongovernmental organisation, and the Zanzibari government are supporting the awareness campaign, with coordination by AFRICARE, a non-profit organisation that supports social empowerment.

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