Tanzania’s government has stopped 40 privately run health centres from providing Aids-related services, accusing them of catering to homosexuals in a country where gay sex is criminalised.
It is the latest move by this East African country to crack down on the activities of homosexuals.
The government believes that non-governmental organisations are using some health centers to promote gay sex, Health Minister Ummy Mwalimu said on Thursday while announcing the restrictions.
In Tanzania, gay s*x is punishable by up to 30 years in prison.
Around two-thirds of African countries criminalise consensual same-sex sexual conduct, according to Amnesty International.
The HIV rate among gay men in Tanzania stands at 30%, according to government figures.
The health minister also announced that the government was expanding HIV/Aids services at 3 000 other health centers across the country.
The news comes about six months after the government threatened to deregister pro-gay civic groups it said were harmful to the “culture of Tanzanians.”
In September, the government temporarily suspended HIV/Aids outreach projects targeting gay men.
