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With UNAIDS in Tanzania

Her Royal Highness The Crown Princess visited Tanzania today to assess progress made in eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV and to see how young people are engaging in the country’s AIDS response.

April 12, 2016

The mother has HIV - but the child was born healthy. Photo: Christian Laagard, the Royal Court

"It is moving to meet mothers who are in good health and caring for children born free from HIV thanks to antiretroviral medicines,” said Crown Princess Mette-Marit. “It is also particularly rewarding for me to see young people taking up leadership roles in the AIDS response and being equipped with the skills to guide the United Republic of Tanzania towards an AIDS-free generation."

Crown Princess Mette-Marit has been engaged in the AIDS response since 2003 and advocates for the empowerment of women and young people at events and speaking engagements all over the world.

PASADA clinicques

During her visit, The Crown Princess visited facilities providing services for women and young people living with HIV and also met with mothers living with HIV whose children have been born free from the virus. She went to one of the 26 PASADA (Pastoral Activities and Services for People with AIDS Dar es Salaam Archdiocese) clinics operating in the Dar es Salaam and Pwani regions that provide HIV prevention, treatment and support services for people and communities most in need. The Crown Princess also engaged with youth activists at the Stepping Stones Community of Practice, which offers life-skills training for adolescents and young people, including comprehensive sexuality education and programmes relating to HIV and gender equality.

Positive development

At the end of 2014, there were around 1.5 million people living with HIV in the United Republic of Tanzania. The number of new HIV infections declined by more than 50% between 2000 and 2014 and the number of new HIV infections among children dropped by around 70% between 2009 and 2014 as access to HIV services increased.

Source: UNAIDS

Thanks to antiretroviral medicines, the mother's HIV has not been transmitted to her child. Photo: Christian Laagard, the Royal Court
Crown Princess Mette-Marit visiting UNAIDS supported programmes in Tanzania. Photo: Christian Laagard, the Royal Court
The mother has HIV - but the child was born healthy. Photo: Christian Laagard, the Royal Court
Crown Princess Mette-Marit visiting UNAIDS supported programmes in Tanzania. Photo: Christian Laagard, the Royal Court
Crown Princess Mette-Marit visiting UNAIDS supported programmes in Tanzania. Photo: Christian Laagard, the Royal Court
The Crown Princess in conversation with Jasmina, a participant in the Stepping Stones programme. Photo: Christian Laagard, the Royal Court
Crown Princess Mette-Marit visiting UNAIDS supported programmes in Tanzania. Photo: Christian Laagard, the Royal Court

HIV and AIDS

April 2006 Crown Princess Mette-Marit was appointed Special Representative for UNAIDS (Photo: Lise Åserud, Scanpix)
Crown Princess Mette-Marit visiting UNAIDS supported programmes in Tanzania. Photo: Christian Laagard, the Royal Court
The mother has HIV - but the child was born healthy. Photo: Christian Laagard, the Royal Court
The Crown Princess in conversation with Jasmina, a participant in the Stepping Stones programme. Photo: Christian Laagard, the Royal Court
The Crown Princess attends conference on women's health - Women Deliver in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Takes part in the debate on HIV - AIDS (Photo: UNAIDS)
The Crown Princess and Lakshmi Puri, UN Women Acting Executive Director, during a breakfast discussion during Women Deliver 2013 (Photo: Azhar Rahim)
Crown Princess Mette-Marit listens to caregivers making floor mats as she visits a shelter for children with HIV/AIDS in Kuala Lumpur on May 29, 2013 (Photo: Bazuki Muhammad, AFP)

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