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Tanzania HIV/AIDS Interfaith Partnership (TIP) Declare a Call to Action to All Churches and Mosques to Fight HIV/AIDS in Tanzania

December 13, 2006

December 13, 2006 Bishop Jude Tadeus Ruwa-ichi, President of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference; Bishop Peter Kituga, Deputy President of The Christian Council of Tanzania; Sheikh Harith bin Khelef, Chief Mufti of Zanzibar and Sheikh Issa bin Shaaban Simba, Mufti of Tanzania will join Pernessa C. Seele, Founder and CEO of the Balm In Gilead in a call to action to all churches and mosques to fight HIV/AIDS in Tanzania.

The senior leadership of the faith community of Tanzania has been working together with the Balm In Gilead since 2002 to address HIV/AIDS in Tanzania. “Today, it is time for faith leaders to make a public declaration that we are joined by our faith in One God and in fighting a common enemy--HIV/AIDS in Tanzania.” Says Bishop Ruwa-ichi, President of the TEC conference.

The Tanzania HIV/AIDS Interfaith Partnership (TIP) is a sponsored program of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and The Balm In Gilead and is funded through the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for HIV/AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Through the TIP Project, both Churches and Mosques are receiving training and capacity development to provide prevention, treatment and care services to people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.

The senior leadership of each of the four faith communities formed an Advisory Committee to reinforce their dedication and services in HIV/AIDS prevention and care. The goal of the TIP Project is to support and enhance the ability of faith–based and community-based organizations in Tanzania to effectively deliver HIV prevention, care, and treatment programs by providing infrastructure development, capacity building and technical assistance services.

The leaders of TIP have produced a Proclamation as a call to action for Churches and Mosques to join the effort of TIP. The signed proclamation will be distributed throughout the country. The hope is for Churches and Mosques to display the proclamation for all to see the full united engagement of Tanzania’s faith community in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Also attending the press conference and signing the proclamation will be

  • Rev. Fr. Anthony Makunide, Secretary General of TEC
  • Sheikh Fadhil Soraga, Secretary to the Office of the Chief Mufti of Zanzibar
  • Mr. John Mapesa, Deputy Secretary General of CCT
  • Ustaadh Muhammed Mvogogo, Acting Secretary General of the National Muslim Council of Tanzania of Bakwata


TIP is working in 9 regions: Singida, Tabora, Mwanza, Shinyanga, Kigoma, Tanga, Mtwara, Lindi and Zanzibar. Through community outreach, TIP delivers messages that reinforce abstinence and being faithful. The project provides care and support to the vulnerable affected by AIDS. To date, TIP has reached at least 1,000 AIDS orphans across the country.

The TIP Project brings together four major pillars of faith in Tanzania.

“The devastation of AIDS in our country is tearing down barriers that have far too long kept us apart. All of our people are suffering from this disease, and we are grateful to the Balm In Gilead for bringing their 18 years expertise of mobilizing and educating Christian and Muslims in Africa and in America to provide prevention and care services to the people” Sheikh Harith Bin Khelef, Chief Mufti of Zanzibar.

The Balm In Gilead is a non-governmental organization whose mission is to improve the health status of people of the African Diaspora by building the capacity of faith communities to address life-threatening diseases, especially HIV/AIDS. The TIP Project is headed by Rev. Evatt Mugurara, the Country Director of The Balm In Gilead-Tanzania.

For more information on the TIP Project please call Rev. Evatt Mugurara at 222126462.