The Afya Kwanza Project is a major national health initiative implemented by Management and Development for Health (MDH) with support from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through USAID. The project works closely with the Government of Tanzania to strengthen and expand comprehensive HIV prevention, care, and treatment services across the country.

Through its multi-year grant, Afya Kwanza focuses on improving the quality of HIV services at both community and health-facility levels. It enhances systems for clinical mentoring, data management, and program monitoring, while also addressing TB/HIV integration, key population outreach, and gender-based violence (GBV) prevention.

The project operates in partnership with regional health management teams and local organizations to ensure that communities receive holistic and people-centered health services. Afya Kwanza’s goal is to ensure that everyone — especially vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations — has access to quality HIV care, treatment, and support.

LHRO’s Participation in Afya Kwanza

Life & Hope Rehabilitation Organization (LHRO) is proud to be among the local organizations that have actively participated in the Afya Kwanza Project through community-based implementation grants.

Through this collaboration, LHRO has contributed to the national HIV response by focusing on key and vulnerable populations, especially people who use and inject drugs (PWUIDs), who are among the most at-risk groups for HIV infection. Under the Afya Kwanza initiative, LHRO has:

• Conducted community outreach and HIV testing services for key populations.
  
  
• Linked clients to treatment and care facilities supported by MDH.
  
  
• Provided counseling, psychosocial support, and harm-reduction education to reduce stigma and improve adherence to treatment.
  
  
• Supported TB screening and referral for co-infected clients.
  
  
• Strengthened community systems through training of peer educators and close coordination with local health authorities.

Impact and Significance

LHRO’s participation in Afya Kwanza has helped bridge the gap between health facilities and the communities most affected by HIV and substance use. By combining MDH’s clinical expertise with LHRO’s grassroots experience, the partnership has created a stronger, more inclusive approach to public health.

This collaboration reflects LHRO’s ongoing commitment to Tanzania’s national goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat — ensuring that no one is left behind, regardless of background or circumstance.