TANZANIA COMMISSION FOR AIDS - Global HIV M&E Information

Impact of HIV/AIDS
The impact of HIV infection and AIDS has been felt across all major sectors and at
household and individual levels. HIV/AIDS have caused significant increase in the
adult and child morbidity and it is now believed that AIDS is the leading cause of death.
Increased mortality rate has reduced life expectancy of Tanzanians from 56 years to 47
years by the year 2004.
Increased adult mortality rate has resulted in rapidly increasing the proportion of
children under 15 years of age who are orphans. By 2000, it was estimated that about
1.1% of the children had no both parents, 6.4% had no father and about 3.5 % had no
mother.
HIV/AIDS has had significant impact on health care provision. Hospital staff and
services capacity is overwhelmed. It is now estimated that about 50% of the hospital
bed in the country are occupied by HIV/AIDS exerting pressure on the meagre
resources allocated for health case. The demand for medicines has increased
tremendously. The successes of the National TB campaign have been challenged by
increased TB patients. The economic impact of HIV/AIDS is difficult to assess because
it involves multiple variables. However, fatigue and frequent illnesses are associated
with absenteeism from studies and work-places (be it self employment or wage
employment). The impact of this is an increased burden for health care outlays and
reduced productivity.
The World Bank had estimated that the average real GDP growth rate for the period
between years 1985-2010 would drop from 3.9% without AIDS to between 2.8% -
3.3% with AIDS. These are serious economic implications of the pandemic to our
nation.
More specifically, the impact is manifested in the following areas:
• Reduced productivity:
• Loss of skilled workforce:
• Socio-economic impact:
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