06 Jun EGPAF Communications and Advocacy Conference-Tanzania
Africa REACH attends the annual EGPAF Communications and Advocacy (C&A) Conference 10-12 May 2023
The EGPAF Communications and Advocacy conference is an annual gathering of the country, regional and global communications and advocacy staff members working across various projects. This conference, which commenced in 2016 is an essential component of community practice, peer-to-peer knowledge sharing and creating synergy between community projects in-country and regional/global practices and policies that affect them.
To view a small lense of Tanzania’s in-country community programmes, Africa REACH joined the External Affairs and Public Policy team for site visits in Arusha.
The teams visited Mt. Meru, Oltrumet and Meru District Hospital.
Site Visits in Arusha
(Information courtesy of EGPAF)
Meru District Hospital is a 3rd level primary health care facility located within Meru District Council which is one of the 7 Councils in Arusha Region. The hospital, popularly known as Tengeru, is the government owned and located alongside Arusha Moshi highway, 13 kilometers from Arusha city. Meru District Hospital serves the Meru district as well as some parts of other districts of Arusha, Kilimanjaro, and Manyara.
Mt. Meru Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) is a government-owned referral health facility that serves the Arusha region’s seven councils. The region has a population of about 2.2 million people according to 2022 estimates, and a growth rate of 2.5%. According to the Tanzania HIV and AIDS Impact Survey (THIS), the regional HIV prevalence decreased from 3.2 % in 2011/12 to 1.9% in 2016/17.
Oltrumet District Hopital is the 3rd level Primary health care facility located within Arusha District Council which is one of the 7 Councils in Arusha Region. The Council has an area of 1,445.6 square kilometers with Monduli on the West borders; Meru on the East, Longido on the North, Simanjiro on the South and it engulfs Arusha Municipal Council.
The Council has a population of 449,518 people according to National Bureau of Statistics 2022 census and has total of 58 health facilities, 2 Hospitals of which Oltrumet is one of them, 7 Health Centers and 49 Dispensaries. The facility offers PMTCT services through RMNCH clinics where an average of 132 women are attended monthly at the clinic among who 13 (10%) are HIV infected pregnant and breastfeeding women.
C&A Conference
The 3-day conference consisted of looking at the global heath and political landscape where we took a deep dive into EGPAF’s engagement at global level including country workplans. Africa REACH heard from in-country teams from across the continent, talking about their programmes and how they have used communications and advocacy tools to amplify their messaging.
On Day 2, Africa REACH had the opporunity to open a session titled “Africa taking the leadership” which focused on African focused advocacy in the HIV response. During the presentation, Africa REACH presented key highlights from it’s 2023-2025 strategic plan and emphasised the importance of African-led voices and effort in the fight to end AIDS in children and young people on the African continent.
The CCA conference was important in discussing new idead on how Africa REACH could work with EGPAF at country, regional and global level, to unify advocacy efforts.
