Benjamin Mkapa

The Benjamin Mkapa HIV/Aids Foundation will hold a gala dinner tomorrow to raise 3.0bn/- for a five-year scheme aimed at complementing government efforts in tackling the HIV/Aids challenge and prevention of maternal and newborn deaths to achieve the Millennium Development Goals national targets.

The event will be graced by President Jakaya Kikwete and former presidents Mzee Ali Hassan Mwinyi and Benjamin Mkapa.

The Foundation’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Ellen Senkoro said: “The Mkapa Fellows Programme targets to reach 2.5 million Tanzanians living in rural areas within the next 5 years by recruiting 180 health professionals inclusive of 45 doctors. That will save lives of pregnant mothers, newborns and people living with HIV/Aids.”

“It also aims at skills development through training, coaching and mentoring of more than 1,500 health workers on the provision of quality HIV/Aids care as well as treatment and preventing HIV transmission from infected mothers to a child and saving pregnant mothers and newborn lives,” she added.

Under the Mkapa Fellows Programme, 30 operating theatres at primary health centres will be rehabilitated or constructed and furnished with medical equipment and more remote communities will be reached with mobile clinics and health education on reproductive health and HIV/Aids will aim at rehabilitating/constructing 30 operating theatres at primary health centre levels and furnishing them with medical equipment, Reaching remote communities with mobile clinics and health education on Reproductive health and HIV/Aids.

The event will be graced by President Jakaya Kikwete who will be joined by two former Heads of State Mzee Ali Hassan Mwinyi and Benjamin William Mkapa.

The gala night will also bring together various private sector and corporate executives, diplomats, development missions and individuals to pledge for their support towards this noble cause.