Abstinence and Being Faithful

According to reported national statistics, 93% of Tanzanians are HIV negative and need to protect themselves from being infected. The Balm In Gilead supports the development of relevant focused prevention interventions that aim toward behavior changes of social norms regarding HIV by creating a social and cultural climate that supports protective practices. By supporting the scale up of HIV prevention through Abstinence and Being Faithful (A/BF) in 7 regions of Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar, The Balm In Gilead is making a difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of Tanzanians in Kigoma and Mara in Northern Tanzania; Shinyanga, Singida and Dodoma in central Tanzania; Mtwara and Lindi in the South; Tanga in the East; Iringa in the West, and in Zanzibar.

The Balm In Gilead has long recognized that FBOs have a great capacity to reach community members. Religious leaders continue to play an integral role in providing prevention methods that fit within the traditional value system. As such, the Balm In Gilead's A/BF program teaches, supports and empowers recipients to abstain from pre-marital and multi-partner sexual activity and delay sexual debut for youth. The Balm In Gilead is scaling up the A/BF prevention program by adopting best practice behavior communication models to help achieve abstinence and risk avoidance for youth, young adults and married couples. The Balm In Gilead's main focus is to make a difference by complementing existing initiatives while at the same time focusing on areas that are sometimes forgotten.