Substance abuse and addiction play a critical role in the transmission of HIV, as well as adherence to treatment for people already living with the virus.
AIHA’s Substance Abuse and HIV Prevention Partners at Tanzania Ministry of Health and Social Welfare’s Zanzibar Department of Substance Abuse and Prevention and Mainland Non-Communicable Disease, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Department and Drug Control Commission are working with the Great Lakes Addiction Transfer and Technology Center to reduce HIV incidence and prevalence rates among substance abusers in Tanzania through a comprehensive, evidence-based approach with a strong focus on a recovery oriented system of care (ROSC).
Partners conducted their first training in Zanzibar in January 2009 for 35 peers in recovery, as well as
representatives from the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare’s Department of Substance Abuse and
Prevention. Titled “How to Create a Community of
Recovery” the workshop focused on the “12 Steps
Recovery Model” and the “Islamic Milati,” and was
designed to increase capacity to address both HIV and substance abuse in Zanzibar. An early outcome of the training has been increased awareness of and
attendance at 12- step programs in the community.
Inter-faith dialogue
plays an important role in collective efforts to understand both HIV and substance abuse within the local community therefore partners and Twinning Center staff visited the Muslim Education and Welfare Association (MEWA) in Kenya to gain a greater
knowledge of the models they have in place for
recovery within the East African context, which is
helping to direct future activities as this partnership
progresses.
To date, partners have trained a total of 35 recovery peers in Zanzibar on the ROSC model and another 35 from the Mainland.
They have also established 10 Sober Houses in Zanzibar, including one for women, and they conduct ongoing family therapy sessions to support people who are facing addiction-related
issues.
Partners actively collaborate with faith- and community-based organizations to prevent new HIV infections among substance abusers, other vulnerable populations, and the community at large.
Updated November 15, 2011
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