UPDATED: 16 Jan 2008 GMT
Speeches 2006
Launch of the UJANA Project
Venue: Golden Tulip Hotel, Dar es Salaam.
December 11, 2006
Remarks by the U.S. Ambassador Michael L. Retzer
Mheshimiwa Mgeni Rasmi, Mama Salma Kikwete,
Mheshimiwa Major General Lupogo, Chairman of TACAIDS,
Representatives of organizations committed to combating HIV/AIDS,
Wageni waalikwa,
Vijana,
Nimefurahi kuwa hapa leo hii.
I am pleased to join you as we together launch a new HIV prevention project for the youth of Tanzania. The U.S. Government is committed to working closely with the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania to combat the scourge of HIV/AIDS. Through PEPFAR, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, we have been offering financial, technical, and moral support to prevent the spread of HIV, expand care and treatment services to those individuals already infected, and lessen the impact of AIDS on families and communities. In the area of HIV prevention, the U.S. Government has placed particular emphasis on working with youth.
We believe that focusing on youth is vitally important. Approximately 60% of new HIV infections in Tanzania occur among young people. To counter this unacceptable statistic, together we must undertake an aggressive, focused effort to engage this population. The youth of this nation represent Tanzania's future: they are this great country's future teachers, doctors, educators and leaders. Their well-being will literally determine the health of the nation.
For the past three years, the U.S. Government has funded the largest youth HIV prevention effort in Tanzania, the YouthNet/Tanzania Project; you have just heard about some of the work and successes of this project. Today, we come together to launch a new youth HIV prevention project called UJANA. The UJANA project will build on the strength and experience of YouthNet/Tanzania. Over the next five years, the U.S. Government will contribute up to $25 million dollars for UJANA, which will be supplemented by a cost-share contribution from Family Health International of nearly $4 million dollars. This translates to a nearly a $30 million dollar investment in youth HIV prevention.
The goal of the UJANA project is to prevent HIV infection among youth. UJANA will foster knowledge and skills for better health among young people, their parents, faith leaders, and their communities. UJANA will work with the youth of Tanzania to make sure they have the information and skills they need to protect themselves from infection. Further, project staff will promote HIV testing as an important strategy: to help HIV negative youth gain renewed energy and determination to stay negative and to link HIV-positive youth to medicines and services that will increase their chances of having long and productive lives. In short, UJANA is about hope. Instilling hope in youth about their futures is perhaps the most important prevention weapon we have. When young people have hope, they generally take more care with their health and their lives.
I very much appreciate the First Lady’s presence here today, demonstrating that the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, and the First Lady herself, have made HIV prevention among youth one of this country’s highest priorities. By working together, we will be successful in reducing the HIV prevalence in Tanzania, promoting a healthy youth, and ensuring a strong Tanzania well into the future.
Asanteni kwa kunisikiliza.
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