Press Release
Americans Honor Mama Kikwete’s AIDS Stigma Fight
November 6, 2008
First Lady Mama Salma Kikwete was honored November 5th for her role in leading the fight to reduce stigma associated with HIV/AIDS in Tanzania, in a special event hosted by United States Ambassador Mark Green, his wife, Mrs. Sue Green, and representatives from the Global Health Progress initiative and the Abbott Fund.
Ambassador Green said, “Her Excellency Mama Kikwete’s personal leadership, which she displayed when she was publicly tested for HIV, and her tireless efforts to improve women’s and girls’ health and education, make her a global health leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS.”
Earlier this year on the Day of the African Child (June 16th), Mama Kikwete and Mrs. Green committed to act as champions against stigma, advocating for children and challenging all forms of stigma against those infected or affected by HIV/AIDS.
This event honoring Mama Kikwete hosted at the American Ambassador's residence included a presentation of $25,000 (approximately 32 million Tsh/-) to Mama Kikwete by Christy Wistar, Vice President of Abbott Fund Tanzania, to support quality education of girls and children affected by HIV/AIDS at a model school in Lindi. The school currently has facilities to board 300 students, including 45 children who have been orphaned or made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS.
Speaking on behalf of the Global Health Progress initiative, Kevin Walker, Vice President for Access and Affordability, noted that “the healthcare challenges of the 21st century are so great that there is a collective need to bring critical stakeholders together to the table to transform healthcare realities on the ground, especially in Africa. Today, government, industry, and NGOs are in the same room to discuss healthcare.” The Global Health Progress initiative brings pharmaceutical companies and global health leaders together to improve health in the developing world.
Also in attendance at the ceremony were senior Tanzanian government officials, representatives from Wanawake na Maendeleo Foundation (WAMA, First Lady Kikwete’s Foundation), U.S. government officials, including representatives from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Peace Corps, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), as well as representatives from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working on health programs in Tanzania.
The Abbott Fund works in partnership with the Government of Tanzania and has invested over $50 million since 2001 to improve the country’s health care infrastructure, increase access to HIV/AIDS testing, care and treatment and help orphans and vulnerable children affected by AIDS.
USAID works closely with WAMA to provide girls, especially those from families affected by HIV/AIDS, with access to increased educational opportunities. This is part of USAID’s larger education program with the Government of Tanzania to increase access to quality education.
The U.S. is a global leader in combating HIV/AIDS worldwide through PEPFAR, the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. This 10-year, $30 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.
The United States will continue to work closely with the United Republic of Tanzania as we strengthen the health of this nation and fulfill President Kikwete’s vision of a “Tanzania free of HIV”.