Tanzania: National HIV/AIDS Care & Treatment Plan at Unilever Tea Tanzania
Unilever Tea Tanzania is participating in a groundbreaking partnership that aims to provide anti-retroviral treatment to 400 000 people by the end of 2009.
Partnering to tackle HIV/AIDS
Unilever Tea Tanzania's in-house hospital at its Mufindi estate is one of 90 medical centres selected to provide free testing and anti-retroviral drugs as part of the Tanzanian government's National HIV/AIDS Care and Treatment Plan (NCTP).
The limited availability of public health facilities in Tanzania is a significant barrier to achieving the Plan's goal. Using a process known as co-investment, the Tanzanian government, international organisations, NGOs and companies are collaborating to use the private sector's infrastructure to expand HIV/AIDS treatment to the wider community.
Progress
Over 6 000 people were tested for HIV/AIDS at Mufindi estate in 2007. By the end of 2008, 900 people living with HIV were being monitored, and 400 people living with AIDS were receiving anti-retroviral treatment. Unilever Tea Tanzania and its partners have set a target to reach 30 000 employees and their dependants out of a total local population of approximately 100 000 people.
Partners include the PharmAccess Foundation, a non-profit organisation which supports quality health care including HIV/AIDS care and treatment, Family Health International and CARE International, who provide technical support. PEPFAR, the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, has supported the upgrading of the estate's hospital.
The challenge is huge, but the co-investment approach demonstrates that when all sectors of society work together, the epidemic can be successfully tackled.
