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Organizational Structure |
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The Tanzania Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS) is an Independent Department under the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
The placement of the TACAIDS under PMO was necessitated by two reasons:
- The war against HIV/AIDS is a multi-sectoral intervention because it is covering cultural, social, economic, political and technological processes. These require the involvement and participation of many public and private stakeholders in developing strategic framework and also in the implementation of the strategy.
- The critical task in this case therefore is to coordinate and mobilize all stakeholders. The Prime Minister's Office is well placed for this role.
As such TACAIDS is a government institution which has broad representation drawn from many stakeholders drawn from within and outside the public service including development partners.
TACAIDS Organizational Structure
Divisions/Units and their functions. |
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Vision & Mission |
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The vision of Tanzania Commission for AIDS is:
To have a society in which our children can grow up free from the threat of HIV/AIDS and which cares for and support all those who are still infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.
The Mission of the Tanzania Commission for AIDS is: To provide strategic leadership and to coordinate the implementation of a national multi-sectoral response to HIV/AIDS leading to the reduction of further infections associated diseases and the adverse socio-economic effect of the epidemic. |
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Historical Background |
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Tanzania is one of the countries hard hit by HIV/AIDS epidemic. Recent reports from the Ministry of Health indicate that since the first 3 cases were reported in 1983 a total 118,713 cases have been reported from health facilities in the country by the end of the year 1999. It is however estimated that cumulatively about 600,000 have developed HIV/AIDS, and about 2 million people have been infected with the HIV/AIDS virus.
The report also shows that 70.5 percent of new HIV infections are in the 25 - 49 age group and 15 percent in the 15 - 24 age group. About 72,000 newborn babies were infected with HIV in 1999. It is estimated that there are over 600,000 orphans due to HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS has now become the primary cause of death among adults in the country and is decimating the most productive age group leaving behind misery, suffering and poverty. HIV/AIDS epidemic is a big social and economic problem with devastating impact on national development. It is against this background that President Benjamin William Mkapa in his New Year Message on the 31st December 1999, called the epidemic "an extraordinary crisis that requires extra-ordinary measures to deal with it".
The President's speech echoed the magnitude of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Tanzania and the need for a multi-sectoral approach in the fight against it. To effect that, on 1st December 2000, the President announced the formation of the Tanzania Commission for AIDS.
TACAIDS was first established by the announcement made by the President on 1 December 2000. The other step taken to establish TACAIDS was by the enactment of a law establishing Tanzania Commission for AIDS, Act No. 22 of 2001 by the Parliament. These steps were taken so as to ensure that the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania has an institution that is legally mandated to provide strategic leadership and to coordinate and strengthen efforts of all stakeholders involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS. |
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Functions of TACAIDS |
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The functions of TACAIDS are: -
(a)To formulate policy guidelines for the response of HIV/AIDS epidemic and management of its consequences in mainland Tanzania
(b)To develop Strategic Framework for planning of all HIV/AIDS control programmes and activities within the overall national strategy
(c)To foster national and international linkages among all stake holders through proper co-ordination of all HIV/AIDS control programmes and activities within the overall national strategy
(d) To mobilize, disburse and monitor resources and ensure equitable distribution
(e) To disseminate and share information on the HIV/AIDS epidemic and its consequences in Tanzania and on the programmes for its control
(f) To promote research, information sharing and documentation on HIV/AIDS prevention and control
(g) To promote high level advocacy and education on HIV/AIDS
(h) To monitor and evaluate all on-going HIV/AIDS activities
(i) To-coordinate all activities related to the management of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Tanzania as per National Strategy
(j) To facilitate efforts to find a cure, promote access to treatment and care, and develop vaccines
(k) To protect human and communal rights of people infected and affected with HIV/AIDS
(l) To promote positive living among people living with HIV/AIDS
(m) To advice the government on all matters relating to HIV/AIDS control in Tanzania mainland.
(n) To identify obstacles to the implementation of HIV/AIDS, prevention and control policies, programmes and ensure the implementation and attainment of programmes, activities and targets.
(o) To promote all activities related to the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS epidemic in particular regarding the following: -
(i) health care and counseling of HIV/AIDS patients
(ii) the welfare of the bereaved orphans and survivors of HIV/AIDS victims
(iii) the handling of social, economic, cultural and legal issues related to the epidemic
(p) To perform such other activities and functions related to the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS epidemic in Tanzania mainland as the commission may deem necessary, |
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