Tanzania FAST-Health Project Advances HIV Services for Children, Adolescents and Families
Tanzania Health Promotion Support (THPS), in collaboration with the Government of Tanzania, the National Council for People Living with HIV/AIDS (NACOPHA) and the Network of Young People Living with HIV and AIDS in Tanzania (NYP+), is implementing the Tanzania FAST-Health Project to help close persistent gaps in HIV services for children, adolescents, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and their caregivers.
Funded by ViiV Healthcare Positive Action, the three-year project—Focused Accelerated Sustainable Transformation for Health (FAST-Health)—runs from June 2026 to June 2029 in Muheza District Council, Tanga Region, and Kahama Municipal Council, Shinyanga Region.
The project uses community-based, family-centred approaches to strengthen HIV prevention, testing, treatment and continuity of care, with particular attention to children and adolescents aged 0–19 years.
Closing Gaps in HIV Services
Tanzania FAST-Health focuses on four priority areas: improving maternal health and access to appropriate HIV services for pregnant and breastfeeding women; strengthening pediatric and adolescent HIV case finding and early diagnosis; improving timely linkage to treatment and continuity of care to support sustained viral suppression; and strengthening health systems through improved healthcare worker skills, better use of data, integrated service delivery and stronger community engagement.
By embedding these interventions within existing Government health systems and community structures, the project promotes local ownership and sustainable approaches that can continue beyond the project period.
Muheza Welcomes FAST-Health
Launching the project in Muheza District Council, Tanga Regional Medical Officer Dr Japhet Simeyo reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to collaborating with partners to ensure communities have access to quality and safe health services.
Dr Simeyo said FAST-Health will help bridge gaps in HIV services for children and adolescents by supporting early identification of HIV, timely linkage to treatment and stronger follow-up to help clients remain in care.
He noted that the project will also strengthen service delivery through better use of data, improved healthcare worker skills, integrated services and greater community engagement.
In Muheza District Council, FAST-Health will support 19 health facilities across 10 wards, strengthening the reach and quality of HIV services for children, adolescents and families.
Strengthening Services in Kahama
The project was also officially introduced in Kahama Municipal Council, Shinyanga Region, where Government leaders highlighted the importance of sustaining progress in the HIV response while addressing remaining gaps among children and adolescents.
Speaking during the launch, Shinyanga Regional Medical Officer Dr Honoratha Rutatinisibwa noted that despite the region’s progress towards the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets, more needs to be done to ensure children and adolescents receive the HIV services they need.
“No child or adolescent who needs HIV services should be left behind. We must reach them, test those who are eligible, link those diagnosed with HIV to care, and support them to achieve and maintain viral suppression.”
Through FAST-Health, THPS and partners will strengthen early HIV diagnosis, timely linkage to treatment, continuity of care and family-centred services, while integrating effective approaches into Government systems for long-term sustainability.
Government Partnership at the Centre
THPS leadership also met with Shinyanga Regional Administrative Secretary, CP Salum R. Hamduni, to discuss continued collaboration in strengthening health and social services across the region, including responses to HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, cervical cancer, and violence against women and children.
