USAID Tulonge Afya

USAID Tulonge Afya

Project Objectives: Catalyzes opportunities for Tanzanians to improve their health status by transforming socio-cultural norms and supporting the adoption of healthier behaviors

 

The USAID Tulonge Afya project focuses on addressing key social and cultural norms as well as the specific needs related to social behavior change (SBC). By understanding and identifying the underlying drivers of behaviors that are directly tied to health, the project can effectively promote positive changes. The project leverages social and behavior change communication (SBCC) along with other mutually-reinforcing approaches to achieve significant health improvements. The main results the project strives to achieve include:

  1. Strengthened Community Support for Healthy Behaviors:
    • The project works to build a strong foundation of community support that encourages and sustains healthy behaviors. This includes engaging community leaders, families, and social networks to create a supportive environment where healthy practices are valued and promoted.
  2. Improved Ability of Individuals to Practice Healthy Behaviors:
    • By providing education, resources, and tools, the project aims to empower individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to adopt and maintain healthy behaviors. This involves addressing barriers to behavior change and facilitating access to necessary health services and information.
  3. Improved Systems for Coordination and Implementation of SBCC Interventions:
    • The project seeks to enhance the systems and mechanisms that support the effective coordination and implementation of SBCC interventions. This includes strengthening partnerships, improving communication strategies, and ensuring that interventions are well-coordinated and aligned with the overall health goals of the community.

Through these efforts, the USAID Tulonge Afya project aims to create a sustainable impact on the health and well-being of Tanzanians by fostering a culture of health and wellness that is deeply rooted in the community.

Volunteers have been actively conducting small group sessions as part of the Furaha Yangu Test and Treat campaign, as well as the Naweza and Sitetereki platforms. These efforts have significantly contributed to the project’s outreach and impact.

Sitetereki Platform: Through the Sitetereki platform, a total of 5,238 youth aged 15-24 were reached. This included 2,879 girls from 2,374 groups and 2,059 boys from 224 groups that graduated. The platform aims to empower young people with knowledge and skills to make informed health decisions, fostering a supportive community environment.

Naweza Platform: The Naweza platform focused on adult education and support, with 697 groups graduating and reaching a total of 7,709 people. This platform addresses a broad range of health and wellness topics, helping adults adopt healthier behaviors and improve their overall well-being.

Furaha Yangu Campaign: The Furaha Yangu campaign targeted individuals at risk for HIV, reaching 60,139 people in total. Of these, 32,230 were males and 27,788 were females. The campaign uses a variety of communication strategies to promote HIV testing and treatment, aiming to reduce the stigma associated with HIV and encourage people to seek necessary health services.

Magnetic Theatre Events: In addition to these platforms, 4,928 people were engaged through 24 magnetic theatre events conducted across 22 wards. These events use interactive and engaging methods to educate the community about health issues and encourage behavior change.

Supportive Supervision Visits: Regular supportive supervision visits were an integral part of the project, ensuring that activities were implemented effectively and providing ongoing support to volunteers and staff. Quarterly visits were conducted in collaboration with the Mufindi Local Government Authority (LGA) and the USAID Tulonge Afya zonal office, reaching 15 wards. Monthly supervision visits covered all 27 wards, providing continuous oversight and support. 

Impacts.

1. Sitetereki Platform: The Sitetereki platform has been instrumental in reaching a total of 5,238 youth aged 15-24. This initiative included 2,879 girls from 2,374 groups and 2,059 boys from 224 groups that successfully completed the program. Sitetereki focuses on empowering young Tanzanians with crucial health information and skills, aiming to foster informed decision-making and healthier behaviors among adolescents.

2. Naweza Platform: The Naweza platform has made significant strides in adult education and support, graduating 697 groups and reaching a total of 7,709 individuals. This platform addresses various health and wellness topics tailored to adult audiences, promoting behavior change and enhancing overall well-being within communities.

3. Furaha Yangu Campaign: The Furaha Yangu campaign has successfully engaged 60,139 individuals identified as being at-risk for HIV. This outreach effort, which included 32,230 males and 27,788 females, focuses on promoting HIV testing and treatment while combatting stigma. By employing diverse communication strategies, the campaign aims to encourage proactive health-seeking behaviors and reduce the prevalence of HIV in targeted communities.

4. Magnetic Theatre Events: Throughout 22 wards, the project organized 24 magnetic theatre events that effectively engaged 4,928 community members. These events utilize interactive and theatrical methods to educate audiences about critical health issues, facilitating community dialogue and promoting behavior change in a memorable and impactful manner.

5. Distribution of IEC Materials: Volunteers played a crucial role in distributing approved Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials across health facilities and targeted communities. This initiative ensures that essential SBCC messages reach a wider audience, reinforcing health education efforts and promoting sustained behavior change among community members.

6. Interpersonal Communication: Face-to-face and small group interpersonal communication sessions were conducted extensively at the street, village, and ward levels. For instance:

  • Furaha Yangu Campaign: Engaged 27,172 individuals, comprising 17,145 males and 10,027 females, through targeted sessions aimed at promoting HIV awareness and encouraging testing.
  • Naweza Platform: Interacted with 6,111 individuals across various groups, enhancing awareness and adoption of healthy behaviors among adults through tailored educational sessions.

7. Supportive Supervision Visits: Regular supportive supervision visits were conducted in collaboration with the Mufindi Local Government Authority (LGA) and USAID Tulonge Afya zonal office. Quarterly visits covered 15 wards, ensuring effective implementation of project activities and providing essential guidance to volunteers. Monthly supervision visits further extended oversight to all 27 wards, maintaining quality standards and fostering continuous improvement in community health initiatives.

8. Training and Capacity Building: During the implementation volunteers received comprehensive training sessions. Notably, 24 Peer Counselors (PCs), including 11 females and 13 males, were trained specifically on the Sitetereki platform. Additionally, 53 volunteers underwent training on the Naweza Pregnancy and Childbirth package, equipping them with essential skills to support maternal and child health initiatives within their communities.

Impact and Lessons Learned: Throughout the project duration, these achievements have collectively contributed to improving health outcomes and fostering positive behavioral changes in Iringa Region. The project’s holistic approach, integrating education, community engagement, and targeted interventions, has effectively addressed health disparities and strengthened local capacities in health promotion. Lessons learned from these experiences continue to inform future strategies, ensuring sustainable impact and resilience in community health initiatives.

Scroll to Top