Press Release

American People Help Turn the Tide with New Hedaru HIV/AIDS Care and Treatment Clinic

September 17, 2009

Kilimanjaro Region September 17, 2009: A new modern HIV/AIDS Care and Treatment Center (CTC) was launched at the Hedaru Health Center in a ceremony led by the Uhuru Mwenge wa Taifa delegation and representatives from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC/Tanzania) and the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation’s (EGPAF). The building of this new HIV/AIDS care and treatment center was made possible through the generous support of the American People, through PEPFAR, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.

The modern clinic represents another milestone in the Kilimanjaro region, bringing high quality services for HIV prevention, care and treatment to more than 20,000 people in the surrounding community. Built within the premises of the Hedaru Health Center, the clinic provides free life saving AIDS treatment services with Anti Retroviral Therapy (ART) for both adults and children using a well trained and skilled medical staff.

Since May 2008, this program has successfully enrolled 76 adult and children patients. The new care and treatment center represents an important step in the American and Tanzanian peoples’ collaborative efforts to fight HIV/AIDS. With the goal of continuing to increase capacity at the district level, this partnership supports staff training programs, provides technical support to monitor and evaluate clinical care, and facilitates the procurement of essential drugs and supplies.

Also, to meet the needs of the Kilimanjaro Region, through the support of the American People, an additional care and treatment center will open in Mwika on Sunday.

Dr. Mfaume, program officer for CDC Tanzania described the new clinic as a “beacon of hope for the people of Hedaru living with HIV/AIDS” and continued by encouraging individuals and families to take advantage of the free testing services and learn their HIV status.

The United States of America is a global leader in combating HIV/AIDS worldwide. This 10-year, $48 billion program, is the largest initiative in history to combat a single disease. Since its inception in 2003, the American people have provided over $817 million to combat HIV/AIDS throughout Tanzania. In 2009, we expect to provide an additional $300 million to Tanzania to fight this deadly disease, bringing the total to over $1.1 billion dollars. The United States will continue to work closely with the United Republic of Tanzania to strengthen the health of this nation and fulfill President Kikwete’s vision of a “Tanzania free of HIV.”

For more information about this media opportunity, please contact Halima Mbaruku in the Press Office at the American Embassy at 266-8001, ext. 4196.