Lighting Candle of Hope
By Kizito Makoye
Another milestone has been reached in the war against HIV/AIDS following the
launch of the Tanzania Benjamin William Mkapa National Fellows Program, in
partnership with the Clinton Foundation, in the grounds of the State House in
Dar es Salaam yesterday.
The program which is designed for medical professionals, aims at the
strengthening of human capacity in HIV/AIDS care and treatment in rural areas.
The launching ceremony was presided over by former US President, Bill Clinton,
who was invited by his host President Mkapa to officiate at the occasion.
Upon the arrival of both presidents in the afternoon, a military band played a
sombre tune, presumably in remembrance of the thousands of Tanzanians who have
perished of HIV/AIDS.
The Clinton Foundation, in partnership with the government of Tanzania, will
assist in the advanced training and deployment of at least 30 medical
professionals each year. Clinton said that vigorous efforts are needed so that
the war against the disease bears fruit.
It is estimated that 1.8 million people are living with HIV/AIDS in the country,
and more than half of the new infections occur in young people aged between
15-24 years of age.
Speaking to the selected audience of diplomats and other dignitaries, President
Mkapa said Tanzania has worked with the Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative
to develop a large scale, comprehensive Care and Treatment Plan.
“We are here today to celebrate life, and bring hope to those who would
otherwise be without hope, for too long HIV/AIDS was seen as the end of hope,”
he said.
The President further said that while in rich countries, HIV/AIDS has changed
from being a death sentence to being a chronic but manageable disease, the
sufferers in Africa are still finding treatment beyond their reach.
“Our people were condemned to die just because they were too poor to afford the
life-saving drugs that modern science has produced,” he stressed.
He said that in Tanzania many HIV positive Tanzanians need Anti Retroviral
Treatment, adding that by the end of this year only 44,000 would be incorporated
into the government Care and Treatment Plan.
He further asserted that in the last financial year, the government spent US$
8.3 million to purchase ARVs, adding that this year US$ 20 million has been
earmarked to buy the drugs.
He said that human resources have been the biggest challenge in expanding the
HIV/AIDS Care and Treatment Plan.
Citing an example of a recent report by McKinsey, he said by 2008 Tanzania will
have a 20 per cent shortfall in the staffing for the HIV/AIDS Care and Treatment
Plan only.
As a gesture to officially launch the program, Clinton and Mkapa jointly lit a
candle to immortalise hope.
During the function personal stories of people living with the virus were told.
Agnes Christopher (35), a widow who is living with AIDS, gave a personal account
of coping with the disease. She said that when her husband passed away, she
decided to test for HIV/AIDS, to find that she was indeed also infected.
On receiving the news, she was completely devastated, knowing that would be the
end of her life, but she later realized, having been through counselling, that
death was not as imminent as she had thought.
Various entertainment groups performed at the function, which was attended by
many prominent people including diplomats, clerics, ministers and famous
businessmen.
The new program will be a core part of the Clinton Foundation’s Rural Initiative
in Tanzania, which seeks to widen the access to drugs for the most
social-economically disadvantaged and remote populations.
Its establishment extends the partnership between the Clinton Foundation and the
Government of Tanzania.
Mtikila condemns peace accord
By Kizito Makoye
Democratic Party (DP) presidential candidate, Rev Christopher Mtikila has spoken
out critically against the alliance between CUF and CCM, as an implementation of
the peace accord following the skirmishes in Zanzibar in 2001.
Mtikila was speaking on the programme Kuelekea Oktoba broadcast by Radio Clouds
FM on Sunday.
Mtikila alleged that CUF leaders were being bribed by the ruling CCM to embrace
the accord, and had forgotten the sufferings that people went through because of
the attacks on civilians by the police.
He said CUF leaders had shamelessly and mercilessly decided to condone the
atrocities committed against its followers, something he termed as unacceptable
and unfair.
In an interview with The Express on Tuesday, CUF National Chairman Prof. Ibrahim
Lipumba said that it was inevitable that CUF should be having a dialogue with
CCM.
He said the only way forward for his party was to implement the resolutions
agreed on, citing an example in which the ANC party of South Africa had to sit
down and discuss with the white government.
When Mtikila was asked what would be his priorities if elected into the highest
office, he said he would embark on an unprecedented war against AIDS.
He also said that he would give subsidies to farmers and prepare them for world
market situations. He added that this is the only way to make the locally
produced commodities compete with those produced in rich countries.
“The producers in the rich countries are enjoying subsidies, as a result their
commodities enter the market with low prices,” he said.
Fund-raising
climb of Kili for kids’ centre
By Heckton Chuwa, Moshi
Students from different university colleges in North America, Europe and Africa
last week started to climb Mount Kilimanjaro with the aim of raising funds for
constructing a new building at the Amani Children Centre in Moshi, Kilimanjaro
Region.
Talking to the press shortly before the climb, the coordinator of the students’
group known as Together We Can, Priscus Mapendo said they expect to raise
Tsh.175 million, which would cover the expenses for construction.
“That’s our target, Tsh. 175 million,” he said.
Mapendo said the new building will improve the accommodation. At present, 85
children are forced to sleep together in one room.
Mathew Pretchard from Macalester College in Canada said, apart from raising
money, this year’s climb will also set an example for future fundraising
activities. When they go back to their respective countries, the students will
let others know about the children so that they also can contribute.
Managing Director of the Landmark Adventures and Trekking Safaris, which
organises the climb, Murtaza Nurbhai, said that after this climb his company is
expecting to organise another one in February next year. A group of British
citizens is expected to climb Mount Kilimanjaro with the motive of raising funds
to help the Tsunami victims.
Belgian govt gives aid to
home-tied patients
By Emmanuel Lazaro, Dodoma
Dodoma Municipal Council has received a total of Tsh. 7 million from the Belgian
government as food assistance for people with AIDS, tuberculosis and leprosy
being cared for in their homes.
The assistance is part of the government implementation strategy of reaching
health services to people being cared for at home, as a step towards stopping
congestion of sick people in hospitals.
The home service providers coordinator for Dodoma Municipality, Dr. Mwinjuma
Ikapu, said the assistance has been given through the Ministry of Health and
then through the National AIDS Control Programme to the targeted people.
The first phase of assistance was given last year, when the Municipality
received Tsh. 4.9 million and the remaining Tsh. 3.1 was given June this year.
Under this programme, ten health centres, dispensaries and mother and child
clinics have been chosen by Dodoma Municipality, including Dodoma Regional
Hospital, to run this service to sick people who are financially unable, Ikapu
said.
He said every named centre has listed ten patients who will receive food aid in
the first phase of the programme implementation. He named the centres as Makole,
Ihumwa, Miyuji, Mirembe Hospital, Habiba Centre, Chamwino and Mbabala
Dispensary.
Others are Hombolo, Makole Dispensary, Works MCH, in each of which ten people
have been nominated to benefit from the programme, as they are unable to earn
their living due to having to remain at home.
COEL denies
accusation made by MP
By Sebastian Gabunga, Mwanza
Concern for the Elderly (COEL), a non-governmental organization which strives to
abolish killings of the elderly for superstitious beliefs, has refuted claims
that it collected money from retirees to help them be able to be paid their
benefits.
COEL Chairman, Jamathon Magodi said in Mwanza City that the claims made in
Parliament by Kahama Constituency Member of Parliament, Raphael Mlolwa,
contained no truth at all.
The Kahama Constituency MP was quoted in Parliament as having asked an
additional question of the Ministry of Labour, Youth Development and Sports as
to when retirees would be paid their benefits, especially after COEL had
collected Tsh. 10,000 from each with the aim of helping them be paid their
rights.
According to Mlolwa, even after collecting the money, the elderly retirees have
not been paid their benefits.
Answering the question, the Deputy Minister for Labour, Youth Development and
Sports Mudhihir Mudhihir, said his ministry has no knowledge of COEL as dealing
with retirees issues, and if they collected money, they had done so with
dishonest intentions.
Magodi said COEL works in Mwanza, Shinyanga and Tabora regions.
After hearing the statement in Parliament, Mlolwa made a follow-up with Kahama
District Administration and found that no money collecting had taken place, so
presumably there was a slanderous rumour involved.
COEL is registered under the Ministry of Home Affairs but works under the
Ministry of Community Development, Gender and Children’s Affairs.
Plan Internat. gives 140 /-m
in supplies to Sekou Toure Reg. Hosp.
By Sebastian Gabunga, Mwanza
Plan International in Mwanza Region has donated various medical supplies for
Sekou Toure Regional Hospital worth Tsh. 140 million.
The medical supplies were handed over to Mwanza Regional Commissioner, Daniel
ole Njoolay, by Plan International Medical Coordinator, Georgia Kasori at Sekou
Toure Regional Hospital recently.
According to Kasori, the medical supplies are anaesthetics for operations,
surgical equipment, instruments for delivery wards and equipment for children’s
wards.
Receiving the medical materials, the RC said the assistance had come at an
appropriate time, especially since Sekou Toure Regional Hospital had undergone
expansion.
Gangsters shoot farmer, take
sesame crop money
By Emmanuel Lazaro, Dodoma
A group of people have killed a farmer by shooting him in the chest at Ibihwa
Village in Dodoma Rural District. The perpetrators also stole Tsh. nine million
from the victim, which he had obtained by selling simsim (also known as sesame
oil seed).
Ibihwa Ward Executive Officer (WEO), Nyange Sufiani, said when talking to The
Express that the farmer, Sekunde Daniel (50), had been living at Mwongozo
Locality in Ibihwa Village.
Nyange said two residents of Ibihwa Village, Mateleka Mbalyo (35) and Daniel
Mbalyo (39) had been arrested and are being held by the police on suspicion of
the killings.
According to the WEO, the incident took place on Tuesday night this week. The
two men had entered the farmer’s house by breaking down the door. Whilst
struggling to fight off the intruders, Sekunde was shot in the chest, dying
instantly. His wife was forced to show them where the money was hidden.
It is claimed that two weeks before the event, the deceased had sold a cargo of
simsim he had grown and had obtained the money which he kept in his house.
Dodoma Rural District Commissioner, Zainab Kikwega, urged residents to
strengthen traditional militia (sungusungu), in order to combat criminal
activities.
Violence against women remains
a dark area
By Angela Mazula
There is a dire need for raising awareness about gender-based violence at local
community, national, regional and international levels, it has been noted.
In an interview with The Express recently, Tulanoga Matimbwi, Gender Officer for
Action Aid Tanzania, said that strengthening local communities to work against
violence against women should be a priority.
Matimbwi said there is a need of establishing links between local and
international groups to end violence against women, to provide a forum in which
organisers can develop and share new and effective strategies for eliminating
violence against women.
She said “Gender-based violence is the most common violence in the country, and
this includes physical, sexual, psychological and economic abuse. Many Tanzanian
cultures, beliefs, norms and institutions legitimize this.”
The government has signed and ratified the Convection on the Elimination of All
Form of Discrimination Against Women, she said.
Tumsifu Mmari, Programmer Coordinator of Action Aid Tanzania, said from their
study of girls in schools that the number of pregnancies has been decreasing
from 49.9 in 1999 to 45.3 per cent in 2003. Obviously this is still bad, there
should be none. It is evident that the achievement of the Millennium Development
Goals might still be a far-fetched dream.
Stanislaus Mongella sets his
sights on Ilemela Constituency seat
By Sebastian Gabunga, Mwanza
A Senior Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International
Cooperation working with the Tanzanian High Commission in Kenya, Stanislaus
Mongella, has declared his intention of contesting for the Ilemela Constituency
parliamentary seat in Mwanza Region on the CCM ticket.
Stanislus Mongella, an in-law of the Speaker of the Pan African Parliament,
Gertrude Mongella, declared his intention Saturday last week shortly after his
arrival from Nairobi, where the Tanzania High Commission is situated.
Giving reasons why he wants to contest the Ilemela Constituency seat, he said,
he had reached the decision with the aim of bringing new challenges, which will
enable the people to use resources found in their areas to bring themselves
development.
One million refugees still in
Tanzania
By Angela Mazula
The Great Lakes Region and Tanzania in particular will continue to host
refugees, a survey has revealed.
A survey on the magnitude and scope of forced migration in the Great Lakes
Region by Khoti Kamanga, a Senior Lecture at the University of Dar es Salaam,
reports that Tanzania is estimated to be hosting about 1 million refugees,
mostly from Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Kamanga says in the report that Kenya hosts about 430,000 refugees and
Internally Displaced Person (IDPs) 204,933 refugees, while Uganda hosts 854,148
IDPs.
DRC, itself, has an IDP population of 2,335,000.
He said studies and experience show that addressing the humanitarian problems,
including forced migration rising from armed conflict, requires one set of
measures, while resolving the underlying causes of the armed conflict itself
demands a fundamentally different approach.
Dodoma, Mpwapwa gets Senior
Bishop Designate
By Emmanuel Lazaro, Mpwapwa
The Anglican Church in Tanzania has appointed Pastor Jacob Erasto Chimeledya
(48), as Senior Bishop Designate of Mpwapwa Diocese in Dodoma Region.
Information disseminated to the media in the region, and signed by the church’s
Secretary General, Dr. Mwita Akili, explained that the election was held in
order to get a Senior Bishop who will take over from Bishop Dr. Simon Chiwanga
who is expected to retire in 2007.
In the statement, Dr. Mwita said the Bishop Designate was obtained Wednesday
last week, after holding elections in All Saints Cathedral, situated in Mpwapwa
District.
The elections were conducted by a Special Synod of Electors for the
Congregation, and were attended by delegates and believers totalling 230.
Profiling the newly designated Bishop of Mpwapwa Diocese, Dr. Mwita said Pastor
Chimeledya has held various leadership posts in the Anglican Church of Tanzania.
US money trains home-based
AIDS care-providers
By Sebastian Gabunga, Mwanza
A total of 240 home-based care-providers in Mwanza Region, have been trained
through Tumaini Strategic Alliance Programme, which is sponsored by the United
State Agency for International Development, with money from the Presidential
Emergency Plan for Aids Relief .
Coordinator of the Programme, Dr. Rutasha Dadi, presented this statement during
the graduation of the home-based care-providers, held at Kahangala Catholic
Church in Magu District.
Generally, the course aimed at providing them with training and expertise in the
fields of communication, nutrition, AIDS stigma and introduction to home-based
health services.
Adding, in order to make the plan succeed, USAID set aside Tsh. 859,425,985 for
Mwanza Region, for use up to the end of this year.
Using the home-based-care trained providers, 2,450 people living with AIDS will
be cared for, and 4,450 orphans living in difficult situations will be helped,
in all the districts of Mwanza Region, excluding Kwimba District, which will be
included in the second phase of the programme next year.