the impact of hiv/aids on the education sector in tanzania

3. EVOLUTION OF THE HIV/AID INTERVENTIONS IN THE
EDUCATION SECTOR
3.1 National policy on HIV/AIDS
Tanzania’s national policy on HIV/AIDS has been in place since November 2001. It is
intended to provide a framework for <strong>the</strong> leadership and coordination <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> multi-sectoral
response to <strong>the</strong> epidemic. The policy calls on all sectors to formulate appropriate interventions
to prevent, control and mitigate <strong>the</strong> <strong>impact</strong> <strong>of</strong> HIV/AIDS. The specific objectives are:
� to prevent <strong>the</strong> transmission <strong>of</strong> HIV/AIDS;
� to promote HIV testing;
� to provide a framework <strong>of</strong> care for people living with HIV/AIDS;
� to stipulate sectoral roles and financing mechanisms;
� to promote HIV/AIDS research;
� to advocate for HIV/AIDS legislation, and
� to stipulate cross-cutting issues <strong>of</strong> national interest.
Before 2001 and <strong>the</strong> advent <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> national policy, <strong>the</strong> fight against HIV/AIDS was
guided by <strong>the</strong> NACP. This programme was formed in 1985. Its initial activities were set out in
a two-year short term plan (1985-1986), which was <strong>the</strong>n followed by three successive
Medium-Term Plans (MTPs), each lasting five years (MTP–I 1987-1991, MTP–II 1992-1996
and MTP–III 1998-2002).
The first two MTPs identified national responses to be guided and coordinated by <strong>the</strong>
health sector. MTP–III however, was formulated with an expanded multi-sectoral vision and
called for <strong>the</strong> wider participation <strong>of</strong> both <strong>the</strong> public and private sectors, including NGOs,
Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) and Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs). However
despite this expanded framework, <strong>the</strong> NACP was still viewed principally as a health sector
initiative, incapable <strong>of</strong> coordinating a multi-sectoral response to HIV/AIDS. Therefore, in
2001 TACAIDS was established under <strong>the</strong> Prime Minister’s Office to provide <strong>the</strong> leadership
and coordination <strong>of</strong> such a response. The national policy was formulated to facilitate <strong>the</strong>
ability <strong>of</strong> TACAIDS to assume this rule.
The policy directs central and local government, NGOs, CBOs, FBOs and <strong>the</strong> general
public to develop IEC interventions to promote safe sex practices, including <strong>the</strong> correct and
consistent use <strong>of</strong> condoms. As part <strong>of</strong> this, <strong>the</strong> national policy mandates <strong>the</strong> MoEC to work
closely with TACAIDS and NGOs to accelerate <strong>the</strong> provision <strong>of</strong> HIV/AIDS information in
schools and to promote safe sex amongst staff. Fur<strong>the</strong>r mandates to <strong>the</strong> education sector are
provided in <strong>the</strong> 2003-2007 national multi-sectoral strategic framework on HIV/AIDS, which
calls on all sectors to develop seperate strategic frameworks. In response to this, <strong>the</strong> MoEC
began working on <strong>the</strong> Education Sector Strategic Plan (ESSP) on HIV/AIDS, 2003-2007.
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