Project Overview

The VijanaTujidili Afya project aimed to reduce the risk of HIV transmission among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) aged 10-24 in Busega district, Tanzania. Funded by the United States Ambassador's Fund for HIV/AIDS Relief (AFHR), the project was implemented for 12 months, from November 2019 to October 2020.

Project Objectives

The project's primary objectives were to:

• Increase AGYW's knowledge of HIV prevention and testing
• Link AGYW to HIV care and treatment services
• Enhance AGYW's economic empowerment opportunities

Target Beneficiaries

The project targeted two main groups of beneficiaries:

• Direct beneficiaries:

Women of reproductive age, including pregnant women, mothers, and caregivers of children under five years of age. This also included married and unmarried girls and boys between 10 and 24 years of age.

• Indirect beneficiaries:

Partners of pregnant women, male parents of under-five children, influential community members such as religious leaders, traditional birth attendants, and traditional healers, and other community members with influence over the target audiences.

Beneficiary Selection

Selection and identification of beneficiaries for both primary and secondary audiences were done in collaboration with Community Health Workers (CHWs), Community Health Volunteers (CHVs), Peer Champions (PCs), Health Facilities Staffs (HFSs), and Local Government Authority Leaders (LGAs).

Implementation Approach

The project employed a comprehensive approach to reach its target audience and achieve its objectives. Key implementation strategies included:

• Cultural theater performances to raise awareness and educate the community
• Family-to-family visits to provide personalized counseling and support
• CTC training (Couple and Individual Testing and Counseling) to promote partner testing
• Interpersonal communication to address individual concerns and provide tailored guidance
• Establishment of school clubs to empower AGYW and provide peer support

Project Accomplishments

The VijanaTujadili Afya project achieved significant outcomes, including:

• Successfully identified and linked 254 AGYW with HIV to care and treatment services
• Increased AGYW's knowledge of HIV prevention, testing, and treatment
• Enhanced AGYW's economic empowerment opportunities through skills training and entrepreneurship support

Conclusion

The VijanaTujadili afya project demonstrated the effectiveness of a comprehensive and community-driven approach to HIV prevention and care among AGYW in rural Tanzania. By combining outreach, education, and economic empowerment strategies, the project successfully reduced HIV transmission rates and improved the overall well-being of AGYW in the Busega district.