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Cuthbert Maendaenda
Tanzania must step up measures to document the number of men having sex with other men (MSM) as part of its HIV prevention efforts, especially among the youth, health stakeholders have said warning that 70 per cent of new sexual infections occur among young men who have sex with other men, those in sex work and among drug abusers.
The call was made late last week at a three-day workshop on Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) held in Morogoro Region where Project Manager for Tanzania Men as Equal Partner (TMEP) Cuthbert Maendaenda revealed that the country has no data pertaining to MSM. The Project Manager for TMEP which is under the Swedish Association for Reproductive Health (RFSU)was presenting MSM World status which show that worldwide, an estimated 5 to 10 per cent of new HIV infections are caused by Men who have Sex with other Men (MSM). Despite that being the case, Maendaenda said in Tanzania, nothing has been recorded as to the number of men involved in MSM. “On average, it is estimated that HIV infection rates amongst MSM are four to five times higher than the population overall,” he cautioned.He explained that, SRHR differentiates MSM from homosexuality the latter being a concept which recognises that men may have sexual experiences with other men without the act being part of their identity. “There are heterosexuals who have intercourse with same sex partners without being homosexual,” he detailed. “What we see or hear from amongst inmates or in boys’ boarding schools is MSM, and not homosexuality,” he added pointing out that “…sexuality, gender roles play an important role in the spread of HIV as well as in care and support and other aspects of HIV/Aids.”
“We have to take sexuality and gender roles seriously…70 per cent of new sexual infections occur among young men who have sex with other men, those in sex work and drug abusers,” he said. Maendaenda said stigma against homosexuality interferes with the right to choice and right to be oneself. “While we have homosexuals in our homes, we stigmatise those in communities,” he said. According to International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC), 38 of the 53 countries in Africa still consider homosexuality as an offence punishable by legal sentences ranging in severity. In Cameroon, 11 people were put in prison in 2007 for homosexuality. 90 percent of all HIV-transmission happens through sexuality and reproduction. About 5 to 10 per cent of new HIV infections worldwide per year are associated with sex between men. MSM are 14 - 58 times more likely to be HIV positive than the general population in low HIV. In a 2005 Dakar, Senegal survey showed that 21.5 per cent of MSMs were infected with HIV compared to a national prevalence rate estimated by the authorities at 0.7 per cent.
According to ARCAD-SIDA, an organisation in Mali that supports people living with HIV/Aid, in Bamako, the capital of Mali, screening tests carried out on a few hundred MSMs revealed that the infection rate was around 37 per cent.Official statistics set the national infection rate of the population at 1.3 per cent.
“We have to take sexuality and gender roles seriously…70 per cent of new sexual infections occur among young men who have sex with other men, those in sex work and drug abusers,” he said. Maendaenda said stigma against homosexuality interferes with the right to choice and right to be oneself. “While we have homosexuals in our homes, we stigmatise those in communities,” he said. According to International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC), 38 of the 53 countries in Africa still consider homosexuality as an offence punishable by legal sentences ranging in severity. In Cameroon, 11 people were put in prison in 2007 for homosexuality. 90 percent of all HIV-transmission happens through sexuality and reproduction. About 5 to 10 per cent of new HIV infections worldwide per year are associated with sex between men. MSM are 14 - 58 times more likely to be HIV positive than the general population in low HIV. In a 2005 Dakar, Senegal survey showed that 21.5 per cent of MSMs were infected with HIV compared to a national prevalence rate estimated by the authorities at 0.7 per cent.
According to ARCAD-SIDA, an organisation in Mali that supports people living with HIV/Aid, in Bamako, the capital of Mali, screening tests carried out on a few hundred MSMs revealed that the infection rate was around 37 per cent.Official statistics set the national infection rate of the population at 1.3 per cent.
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