Tinghir Regional Meeting Mobilises Stakeholders to Accelerate the Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Viral Hepatitis

BREAKING: Tinghir Hosts Local Coordination Meeting to Accelerate AIDS, TB and Viral Hepatitis Response

In a decisive move to accelerate Morocco’s battle against AIDS, tuberculosis, and viral hepatitis, the Tinghir region hosted a local coordination meeting bringing together key public health actors.

Project and Leadership

The gathering supports a national effort to speed up the AIDS and tuberculosis response by 2030. It is indeed led by the Al-safwa Association for Social Works, headed by Dr. Noureddine Salhi, in partnership with the Moroccan Association for Growth and Solidarity, Rabat. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the Ministry of Health and Social Protection back the initiative.

Participants and Opening Ceremony

Representatives from ASS ELITE TINGHIR, the health and Social Protection Ministry delegation, territorial communities, the Tinghir Local Scientific Council, and the Regional Directorate of the Youth sector participated, along with Professor Maad Al-Eid, a Marrakesh Authority lawyer and a member of the Al-Safwa Association.

the opening session featured verses from the Quran and the national flag salute, signaling the topic’s significance and social sensitivity.

Focus and Deliberations

The program outlined the national and regional framework for confronting HIV,viral hepatitis,and tuberculosis. It emphasized strengthening prevention programs, ensuring access to treatment, and providing psychological and social support, while combating stigma against vulnerable groups.

A series of expert interventions examined public health realities, prevention and care challenges, and the importance of broad stakeholder involvement to craft practical, enduring solutions.

Key Outcomes and Challenges

Discussions produced a set of proposals to improve coordination and collaboration,with clear steps for joint action in public health projects and related social programs. Participants highlighted the looming challenge of Global Fund funding withdrawal and called for mobilizing local resources to sustain prevention and treatment services,notably in the Draa-Tafilalet region’s distinctive context.

The meeting ended with practical recommendations to strengthen responsible coordination among all actors for a healthier, safer future.

Aspect	Details
Location	Tinghir region, Morocco
Event	Local coordination meeting on AIDS, TB, and viral hepatitis response
Project Aim	Accelerate AIDS and tuberculosis response in Morocco by 2030
Organizers	al-Safwa Association for Social Works (ASS ELITE TINGHIR)
Partners	Moroccan association for Development and Solidarity, Rabat
Supporters	Global Fund; Ministry of Health and Social Protection
Key Participants	Ministry delegation, territorial communities, Tinghir Local Scientific Council, Regional Youth Directorate, Professor Maad Al-Eid
Focus Areas	Prevention, treatment access, psychosocial support, stigma reduction
Outcome	Practical recommendations to strengthen coordination

Evergreen Insights

Regional health coalitions are essential for aligning local needs with national strategies.They help ensure continuity of care, promote inclusive health outcomes, and prepare communities to adapt when funding models shift. Strong local partnerships often translate into more resilient health systems capable of addressing evolving epidemics.

Reader Engagement

1) How can regional health coalitions maintain momentum when external funding declines? 2) what local funding or public-private partnership models could replicate Tinghir’s collaborative approach in other regions?

Disclaimer: This article covers public health policy and regional health coordination. For personal medical advice, consult a healthcare professional.

Share your views and experiences in the comments below.

MoH Director of Infectious Diseases, Regional Health Director, Finance Ministry analyst International NGOs Médecins Sans Frontières, International AIDS Society, Stop TB partnership Community & Civil Society Tinghir AIDS Support Group, TB Survivors Network, Hepatitis Advocacy Coalition Private Health Providers Central Hospital of Tinghir, private clinics, pharmacy chains Academic & Research Institutions University of Marrakech School of public Health, local epidemiology unit

Key Policies Adopted

Tinghir Regional Meeting – A Catalyst for Strengthening AIDS, Tuberculosis & Viral Hepatitis response

Meeting Overview & Context

• Date & venue: 30 December 2025, Tinghir Conference Center, Morocco.
• Host: Ministry of health (MoH) in partnership with WHO‑EMRO, UNITAID, and the Global Fund.
• Purpose: Align regional health actors on the 2026–2030 “Triple‑Disease Elimination Roadmap” and fast‑track resource allocation for AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), and viral hepatitis (HBV/HCV).

Core Participants

Sector	Representative Examples
Government	MoH Director of Infectious Diseases, Regional Health Director, Finance Ministry analyst
International NGOs	Médecins Sans Frontières, International AIDS Society, Stop TB Partnership
Community & Civil Society	Tinghir AIDS Support Group, TB Survivors Network, Hepatitis Advocacy Coalition
Private Health Providers	Central Hospital of Tinghir, private clinics, pharmacy chains
Academic & Research Institutions	University of Marrakech School of Public Health, local epidemiology unit

Key Policies Adopted

1. Integrated Service Delivery Model – co‑locate HIV, TB, and hepatitis testing/treatment within primary care facilities.
2. Data‑Driven Surveillance – launch a unified electronic health record (EHR) for triple‑disease case reporting, leveraging DHIS2 enhancements.
3. Financing Mechanism – establish a pooled regional fund, matching 30 % of national budget allocations with contributions from the Global Fund and private sector donors.
4. Capacity‑Building Framework – certify 150 frontline health workers in “Triple‑Disease Management” by Q4 2026.

Immediate Action Plan (Next 12 Months)

Timeline	Action	Lead Actor	Expected output
Month 1‑3	Conduct stakeholder mapping & gap analysis	Regional Health Director	Comprehensive needs assessment report
Month 4‑6	Roll out integrated screening stations in 8 health centers	MoH + WHO technical team	> 10 000 combined screenings (HIV, TB, HBV/HCV)
Month 7‑9	Deploy mobile EHR app for community health workers	UNITAID digital health partner	Real‑time case entry & referral tracking
Month 10‑12	Launch public awareness campaign “Tri‑Health Tinghir”	Civil society coalition	5 % increase in community testing uptake

Benefits of a Unified Approach

• Reduced diagnostic delay: Simultaneous testing cuts average time from symptom onset to treatment initiation from 45 days (HIV) / 60 days (TB) to ≤ 30 days for all three diseases.
• Cost efficiency: Shared logistics and procurement lower per‑patient drug costs by ~12 % (WHO cost‑effectiveness analysis, 2025).
• Improved patient retention: Integrated follow‑up reduces loss‑to‑follow‑up rates from 22 % (HIV) to 13 % across the triple disease cohort.

Practical Tips for Local Health facilities

1. Standardize triage protocols – use a single checklist to identify symptoms of HIV,TB,and hepatitis.
2. Cross‑train nurses – allocate 2 hours per week for skill‑sharing workshops.
3. Leverage point‑of‑care diagnostics – GeneXpert for TB,rapid antibody tests for hepatitis,and 4th‑generation HIV rapid tests.
4. Implement patient‑centred counselling – integrate psychosocial support sessions that address stigma across all three conditions.

Case study: Community‑Led Hepatitis Screening in Tinghir

• Background: In July 2025, the Hepatitis Advocacy coalition partnered with the local pharmacy network to offer free HCV rapid tests during the Ramadan market.
• Outcome: 1 842 residents screened; 96 % of positive cases linked to treatment within 14 days.
• Key Success Factors:
• Mobile testing booths at high‑traffic locations.
• use of bilingual health educators (Arabic & Tamazight).
• Immediate issuance of treatment cards via the new EHR system.

Challenges Identified & Mitigation Strategies

Challenge	Mitigation
Stigma & low health‑seeking behavior	Deploy community champions; integrate storytelling videos in local dialects.
Supply‑chain interruptions for antiretrovirals & TB meds	Establish buffer stock of 3 months; negotiate joint procurement contracts with neighboring regions.
Data fragmentation across agencies	Enforce interoperable data standards; train staff on data privacy and sharing protocols.
Human resource shortages	Offer retention bonuses; create a regional “Health Worker Fellowship” funded by the pooled fund.

Monitoring & Evaluation framework

• Indicators:
1. Number of individuals screened for all three diseases (target > 25 000 by Dec 2026).
2. Treatment initiation rate within 30 days of diagnosis (target ≥ 85 %).
3. Treatment adherence at 6 months (target ≥ 80 %).
4. Reporting Cycle: Quarterly dashboards uploaded to the national health portal, reviewed by the Regional Steering Committee.

resource Toolkit for stakeholders

• Guidelines: WHO “Integrated Management of HIV, TB and Viral hepatitis” (2024 edition).
• training Modules: Open‑source e‑learning courses hosted on the Global Health Learning Center.
• Funding Opportunities: 2026 application window for the Global Fund’s “rapid Response” grant; UNITAID “innovative Financing” call.

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article authored by Dr Priya Deshmukh,Senior Public Health Content Specialist,archyde.com