The Dumisha Imarisha Rasilimali watu Afya (DIRA) project, generously funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation through Pangaea Zimbabwe AIDS Trust (PZAT) in collaboration with the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition (AVAC), is a pivotal advocacy initiative within the Coalition to build Momentum, Power, Activism, Strategy & Solidarity (COMPASS) Africa. Operating across Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania, DIRA is at the forefront of addressing HIV/AIDS through strategic advocacy campaigns.
BMF joined the COMPASS coalition in 2020 and is currently spearheading the 7th COMPASS Coalition year (December 2023 to November 2024) through the DIRA advocacy campaign. Focused on Human Resources for Health (HRH) contributions to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, DIRA aligns its efforts with Tanzania COMPASS Coalition Outcome No. 5, emphasizing advocacy to address HRH challenges.
Goals and Objectives
DIRA complements BMF-led advocacy initiatives, including Afya Endelevu and RSSH, and collaborates with programs like the National Community Based Program (UNICEF). Operating nationally and at sub-national levels, with a specific focus on Mwanza, Simiyu, Lindi, and Mtwara, DIRA aims to share information, develop advocacy strategies, and execute evidence-informed campaigns. These efforts target improvements in the HRH situation to expedite the achievement of the 95-95-95 UNAIDS HIV epidemic control targets by 2030.
Key Objectives for 2023-2024 Campaign
The DIRA project’s primary goal for the current year is to reduce the HRH gap at Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities by 2% in the regions of Mwanza, Simiyu, Lindi, and Mtwara by November 2024. This ambitious target will be achieved through the following three key objectives:
- Advocate for increased Government commitment to implement the National Health Workforce Volunteerism Guideline by November 2024.
- Advocate for increased Government employment permits at targeted PHC facilities by November 2024.
- Advocate for Government budget allocation to support scholarship awards for continuous professional development and/or on-the-job training for skills upgrading to mid-level cadres.
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