Introduction

Across Africa, a shift is occurring in the landscape of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) is gaining momentum as a tool to empower young people with the knowledge and skills to make informed decisions about their sexuality. While cultural sensitivities, religious beliefs, and varied legal frameworks present challenges, numerous African countries acknowledge CSE's potential to address critical issues such as HIV/AIDS prevention, reducing unintended pregnancies, and fostering gender equality. This growing movement highlights its commitment to investing in the well-being of its future generations through informed decision-making

Objectives

• Gain insights into Tanzania's HIV epidemic and the rationale behind implementing CSE
• Examine updates, enabling factors, and modalities for CSE rollout within the country.
• Share valuable lessons learned from ongoing CSE implementation efforts.
• Share key takeaways from participating countries on how these insights can be applied in their contexts

Proceedings

The session began with Dr Jerome Kamwela, Executive Director of the Tanzania Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS), delivering opening remarks.

Dr. Ona Machangu, Head of Prevention at the Tanzania National AIDS, STIs & Hepatitis Control Programme (NASHCoP), provided a comprehensive overview of the current state of Tanzania's HIV epidemic. He then elaborated on the rationale behind implementing Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) as a potential solution to address the challenges faced.

Dr. Magreth Kagashe of TACAIDS then led a dedicated session focusing on CSE within the Tanzanian context. Her presentation covered several key aspects: firstly, she provided an update on the progress made in implementing CSE programs throughout 2023. Secondly, she delved into the factors that have facilitated the successful rollout of CSE within Tanzania. Finally, she discussed the specific modalities employed for implementing the CSE program. To conclude her session, Dr. Kagashe shared valuable insights and lessons learned from the ongoing implementation efforts.

Dr Grace Mallya from UNAIDS, the session chair, then facilitated an interactive Q&A session. This session provided a platform for representatives from participating countries, including Botswana, Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia, to engage with the presenters and explore the presented information in further detail, fostering dialogue and knowledge sharing among the attendees.

Resources

The recording and presentation from this session can be accessed below.

‍

‍