THE 3RD NATIONAL PAEDIATRIC HIV CONFERENCE OPENS IN DAR

By Nasser Kigwangallah

THE government of Tanzania was doing enough to ensure that people living with HIV/AIDS, including children are treated carefully so that the pandemic could be curtailed.

The remarks were made by the Assistant Director of Preventive Servises at the Ministry of Health and Vocational Training Dr. Neema Rusibamayila on the occasion to open the 3^rd National Paediatric HIV Conference in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday, this week.

She said as Tanzania was the 5^th country in the world with largest number of persons living with HIV/AIDS approximately 1.4 million, the ministry of health and its agencies was educating more people on the services which are available for children and their families infected and affected with HIV/AIDS and also on the better ways of disinfection.

She continued too say that the government recognises the importance of making HIV care and treatment accessible to as many children as possible.

“During HIV testing campaigns, most people who come there for testing are mostly adults, where children do not come at all, therefore denying services to the most needful group in our midst,” she said.

She added that with that shortcoming, the government has facilitated such partnership with different non governmental organisations with whom are joining hands together in this meeting to put together a mechanism for reaching the target.

She remarked: “We intend to improve access to more children who are in dire need of HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support services.”

She hoped that this gathering would pave way to improved access of quality children's HIV/AIDS services in the country.

She called upon professionals to utilise the conference and evaluate the efforts of the governmet's ability to fight the pandemic.

She urged all participants to be active in contributing their views and ideas as well as their expertise and strategies so as to achieve the elimination of paediatric HIV to zero HIV related deaths and zero stigma.

According to her, the Ministry of Health and Vocational Training is aggressively striving to for improved access to to quality of HIV and Aids services at all levels in order to attain the global agenda of elimination of Paediatric HIV by 2015.