Speeches

ANGAZA ZAIDI Counselling and Testing Program Launch

Venue: Mnazi Mmoja Grounds, Dar es Salaam

April 28, 2009

Remarks by United States Chargé d’Affaires Larry André

Americans and Tanzanians are partners in the fight against HIV/AIDS. AMREF plays a key role in this partnership. Funding for Angaza Zaidi comes from the American people through PEPFAR, the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. PEPFAR is the largest international health commitment ever made by any nation to fight a single disease.

The success of our partnership is shown in the millions of Tanzanians who have received voluntary testing and counseling, the millions who receive care and treatment, and the millions who have understood--and applied--prevention messages.

Counselling and Testing for HIV/AIDS allows Tanzanians to participate in the fight against the disease by learning their status and then taking necessary steps to control the spread of the illness. We are proud of our partnership with the people and government of Tanzania to ensure that these essential services are available to all Tanzanians.

AMREF Tanzania is receiving a new five-year award from the American people for the rapid scale-up of counselling and testing that builds on lessons learned through both the Angaza Project and the extremely successful 2007 National Voluntary Counselling and Testing Campaign led by President Kikwete. Your Excellency: you and First Lady Mama Kikwete have led the way. Since you both stood up in July 2007 and publicly tested for HIV/AIDS, over 4 million Tanzanians have followed your example and have been tested. We applaud your leadership and your advocacy in all aspects of the fight against HIV/AIDS and the stigma associated with it.

Based on their success of the last eight years, we are confident that Tanzanians who come to Angaza Zaidi sites will experience high professional standards, compassion and warmth from the experienced teams of Angaza Zaidi counsellors. Supporting organizations within Angaza Zaidi are diverse, representing a wide range of patriotic Tanzanians committed to improving the health of their fellow citizens. They work from Kagera Region in the northwest to Rukwa and Ruvuma regions in the south and include municipal governments, hospitals, religious organizations, private organizations and representatives from the business community. Together, we are strong. Angaza Zaidi is a model of the broad-based partnerships needed for individuals, families, and communities to overcome the challenges of HIV/AIDS.

We believe that organizations like AMREF Tanzania have an important role to play in building a better, healthier society. Our enduring partnership with the Government of Tanzania, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and African organizations like AMREF is part of a comprehensive vision for an Africa free of HIV and AIDS. We salute all of you who are working so hard to make this vision a reality.

Strong workplace health policies and programs for large employers are important aspects of the American health care system. We commend AMREF for its continued emphasis on establishing new public-private partnerships as demonstrated by their recent proactive outreach through Angaza Zaidi to partner with companies such as Geita Gold Mines and Barrick Tanzania. Working in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the National AIDS Council, AMREF and its private sector partners demonstrate the leadership, the resolve, and the corporate social responsibility of Tanzania’s public-private partnerships.

We need all of you to take the opportunity to learn your HIV status free of charge. You can then suggest that your friends and family do the same. It is only through testing that you can plan for your future. If you are found to be HIV positive, enroll yourself at any of the more than 80 Care and Treatment clinics opened up the past year throughout Tanzania. If you are HIV negative, learn about the ways that you can stay that way and support those around you to do the same.

You can take control of your own future. Know your status and become a leader in the fight against HIV and AIDS. Whether you are HIV positive or HIV negative -- let us all commit to live healthier lives.

On behalf of the American people, I thank you Mr. President, members of your government and our friends in AMREF for your efforts on behalf of the Tanzanian-American Partnership to improve the health of this beautiful country. We will continue to work with you and the entire Tanzanian nation to fulfil your vision of a Tanzania without AIDS. We believe it is possible.

TANZANIA BILA UKIMWI INAWEZEKANA.
AHSANTENI SANA.