By-Liner

Tanzania and America Celebrate Life on World AIDS Day

December 1, 2008

By: Mark Green

World AIDS Day began as a way for communities across the world to mourn those who had lost their lives to HIV/AIDS. But this year, thanks to the success of testing campaigns and the introduction of life-saving antiretroviral treatment, we also mark World AIDS Day as a celebration of life -- because those who were once dying are now living.

For more than 25 years, the world community has witnessed the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS. Until recently, many wondered whether prevention, treatment and care could ever successfully be provided in resource-limited settings. But I’m proud to say that America and other nations heard the call for action, and have responded with initiatives offering both financial support and public health training and education.

In 2003, U.S. President Bush launched the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) to combat HIV/AIDS globally. This is the largest commitment by any nation to combat a single disease in history. Through PEPFAR, the American people have already provided $18.8 billion in HIV/AIDS funding, and the U.S. Congress has extended and expanded the program for another five years.

Here in Tanzania, we’re helping public health leaders focus on key areas within Tanzania’s National Multi-sectoral Strategic Framework (NMSF) such as: innovative prevention measures to halt the spread of the disease; counseling and testing so that every Tanzanian can “know your status”; HIV/AIDS care and treatment, especially for orphans and vulnerable children; prevention of mother-to-child transmission; and basic palliative care. We are also helping Tanzania to improve laboratory infrastructure and blood safety, while taking concrete steps to address the critical need for more health workers to fill gaps in the health care workforce and strengthen the health care system.

Make no mistake: there is a long, long way to go in the battle against HIV/AIDS. However, the milestones we’ve all achieved by working together can give us good reason for hope and optimism. After all, just over five years ago, in all of sub-Saharan Africa, only 50,000 people living with HIV were receiving antiretroviral treatment. Now, the Government of Tanzania alone has approximately 150,000 on antiretroviral treatment, and on average, 5,000 new patients are receiving treatment each and every month. In addition, hundreds of thousands of people living with AIDS and orphans and vulnerable children are receiving care and support, and over 4 million individuals have been counseled and tested in just the last 12 months.

Worldwide, because of partnerships like the one here in Tanzania, PEPFAR is on track to achieve its aggressive goals of supporting two million people through treatment, preventing seven million new infections, and helping provide care for 10 million people infected or affected by HIV/AIDS, including orphans and vulnerable children.

But there is another thing we can celebrate on this World AIDS Day: the leadership of everyday Tanzanians. While the financial assistance that America and other donor partners provide is obviously crucial, none of these achievements would be possible without the courage of the countless Tanzanians who are coming forward to learn their status, and then taking steps to take control of their health future. These patriotic Tanzanians are choosing life, saving the lives of their fellow countrymen and women, and creating hope for a future free of HIV/AIDS. They are proving that with focused support, ordinary people can do extraordinary things.

In short, on this World AIDS Day, we should still remember those who have lost their lives through this deadly disease. But let’s also remember, and honor, those lives being saved through Tanzania’s commitment to fight this deadly disease.

Mark Green is the Ambassador of the United States of America in Tanzania.