PEPFAR/DOD/Pharmaccess/Tanzania Peoples Defence Forces HIV/AIDS Program

The Tanzania Peoples Defense Forces TPDF like any other institution in Tanzania has been experiencing an increase in the burden caused by HIV AIDS pandemic. Like all uniformed services in the world, the incidence and prevalence of HIVAIDS is expected to be higher in this institution compared to that in the civilian population. The TPDF medical services support a total of over 30,000 enlisted personnel and their dependents and civilians living in the communities around the military health facilities. TPDF hospitals do not only service military personnel and their dependents, but also civilians living in the vicinity of the health facilities. In March 2002, Lugalo, the National Military Referral Hospital in Dar es Salaam started one of the first ART programs in Tanzania, with support of PharmAccess. Care and treatment services at Lugalo have expanded with EP funds since 2004. With FY05 and FY06 funds PAI and TPDF have managed to organize a comprehensive HIVAIDS prevention program, counseling and testing, PMTCT and care and treatment services in eight military hospitals Lugalo, Mbalizi, Mwanza, Mzinga, Monduli, Ruvuma, Mirambo, Bububu and additional six health centers. All military hospitals and health centers, except Lugalo, Mwanza and Mbalizi, where the Program has been initiated were in a more or less dilapidated state and medical and administrative staff was not prepared for HIVAIDS services. Renovation of rooms for VCT, PMTCT, Care and Treatment and HIVTB services, laboratory and pharmacy space and waiting areas was and is sine-qua-non for every new facility in the Program.