Tanzania Health Summit: Stakeholder Campaign for UHC to Improve Public Health and Reduce Poverty

PEOPLE living with HIV (PLHIV) have a high incidence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), whose risk factors include hypertension, depression, overweight/obesity, hypercholesterolemia, metabolic syndrome and alcohol consumption.

HIV infection causes ongoing immune system activation and chronic inflammation, even when viral replication is well controlled with antiretroviral therapy (ART). This chronic inflammation contributes to damage to various organs and systems, increasing the risk of non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and kidney disease.

Even with effective ART, the PLHIV immune system often does not fully recover to pre-infection levels. Incomplete recovery of the immune system can lead to greater susceptibility to diseases that are influenced by the state of the immune system, such as some cancers and cardiovascular diseases.

Non-communicable diseases are conditions that are not caused by infectious agents and cannot be transmitted from person to person. These diseases are usually chronic and progress over a long time.

According to 2012 estimates by the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), 35.3 million people worldwide are living with HIV and 1.6 million have died from AIDS-related diseases.

In turn, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over 36 million people die every year from non-communicable diseases.

At this year’s Tanzania Health Summit (THS), held recently in Zanzibar, Tanzania Health Promotion Support (THPS) hosted a critical forum on the growing challenge posed by non-communicable diseases, alongside the continuing burden of communicable diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis and emerging diseases. bonfires break out.

The 11th annual summit, held at the Zanzibar International Trade Center, was titled “Public Sector, Non-Governmental Organizations and Private Sector Partnerships for Sustainable Prevention and Care: Integrated Models for Infectious and Non-communicable Diseases.”

The event brought together health experts to explore sustainable strategies to manage the double burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases in Tanzania’s health system, particularly in light of limited resources and declining donor support.

Dr Redempta Mbatia, Executive Director of THPS, stressed the urgent need to implement Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Universal Health Coverage to address the growing challenge of non-communicable diseases.

“To reduce the growing burden of non-communicable diseases, we should implement UHC immediately to ensure everyone has access to quality essential health services without financial hardship. “UHC has the potential to improve global health and reduce poverty, but only if fully funded to ensure no one is left behind,” she said.

Dr Mbatia stressed that Tanzania is grappling with an increase in non-communicable diseases amidst the continued burden of communicable diseases such as HIV and tuberculosis. She noted that lifestyle changes increase the risk of NCDs, while the high costs of healthcare for NCDs, combined with budget constraints and reduced donor funding, require a focus on preventive and cost-effective integration of services.

She recommended integrating NCD management into existing HIV/AIDS service delivery models at the primary care level, suggesting that counselors should be empowered to educate the public about lifestyle modifications.

THPS, in partnership with the Regional and Council Health Management Teams (R/CHMT) of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), works to prevent transmission HIV and improving retention in antiretroviral therapy (ART) services.

Dr Ismail Gatalya, Chairman of the Medical Sub-Committee of Insurers in Tanzania, revealed that an estimated 40 percent of insurance claims are related to non-communicable diseases. The main causes were cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases and mental health disorders.

He stressed the importance of wellness programs that promote healthier lifestyles and reduce overall health care costs, and highlighted that 70 percent of insurance claims related to non-communicable diseases are due to diseases detected late or in the terminal phase.

He outlined key wellness programs that can have a significant impact, such as health promotion, awareness, screening, early detection and regular check-ups. Lifestyle interventions, particularly those related to diet, exercise and mental well-being, along with rehabilitation services for heart disease and stroke, can help restore function and improve quality of life.

Dr. Prosper Njau, program manager for the National AIDS, STIs and Hepatitis Control Program (NASHCoP), discussed the successes and challenges of managing an aging cohort of PLHIV (people living with HIV) on ART.

He cited the Tanzania HIV Impact Survey (THIS) which showed progress towards UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets, with 83 per cent of HIV-infected people knowing their status, 98 per cent on treatment and many achieving viral suppression.

Dr. George Mgomella, deputy program director at the US CDC, emphasized the need to effectively integrate screening for non-communicable diseases, such as hypertension, into HIV services. He explained that this integration would improve patient health outcomes, quality of care and contribute to a sustainable and resilient healthcare system.

THPS continues to work with government, including ministries and local authorities, to ensure accessible and high-quality healthcare services.

The organization addresses public health challenges such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, gender-based violence, reproductive health and more through initiatives such as the CDC/PEPFAR Afya Hatua project (2021–2026), which focuses on prevention HIV and HIV treatment in four regions of Tanzania.