Tanzania Takes a Comprehensive Approach to Student HIV and Sexual Health: UNESCO and Ministry of Health Collaborate on First Steering Committee Meeting for Global School Health Survey and Global School Health Policies and Practices Survey

In Tanzania, UNESCO collaborated with the Ministry of Health to organize the first steering committee meeting for the Global School Health Survey and Global School Health Policies and Practices Survey. These school-based surveys offer a comprehensive and structured approach to collecting data on HIV and sexual health knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors among students. The information gathered from these surveys can help policymakers and educators make informed decisions about the effectiveness of school health programs and life skills-based HIV and sexuality education initiatives. By adapting national programs to better address the specific needs and issues faced by young people in the country, they can enhance these initiatives’ efficacy.

The steering committee convened in Dodoma on April 17, 2024, with several primary objectives in mind. These objectives included securing engagement, commitment, and support from various ministries, as well as endorsing the survey’s conceptual framework within the local context. Comprising high-level officials from ministries such as the Ministry of Health (MoH), Ministry of Education Science and Technology (MoEST), President Office Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Ministry of Community Development Gender, Women and Special Groups (MoCDGWSG), National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), research institutes like National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) and Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation Tanzania (CCBRT), the steering committee brought together a range of expertise to ensure the success of these critical surveys.