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AMREF hails ’achievements’ in AIDS fight
2005-10-07 07:15:07
By Gerald Kitabu
The Board of Trustees of the African Medical Research Foundation (AMREF) has commended achievements recorded in its projects on HIV/AIDS, saying they complemented government efforts in the war against the disease.
AMREF Director, Lisa Meadowcroft from the United States of America said this in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday during the board visit to some youth health and counseling centres located in Kinondoni District.
’Many projects funded by AMREF in Tanzania are doing fine. The foundation has good plans in place to expand them and reach out a wider community,’ said Meadowcroft.
’The AMREF board is encouraged by the progress and will continue supporting the projects,’ he added.
Meadwcroft, who was accompanied by other foundation board members, also urged AMREF-Tanzania to take deliberate efforts that would enable health and counseling services among the youth are given attention in the war against the scourge.
In her address to welcome board members, Life Skills Education Project Manager for Kinondoni District, Mihayo Bupamba hailed the implementation of HIV/AIDS related projects and that more than 300 youths from 9 wards have already received the service.
He said the process is going on to reach more youth from the remaining 12 wards in the district.
She blamed parents for not giving enough co-operation, saying most of them still cling to norms and customs by refusing to let their children take part in testing and counseling services.
Bupamba said the number of girls going for the service is lower than the numbers of boys turning up.
He said although the target age group is between 10-24 years, most of the centers have been receiving youth aged from 16-years and above.
She appealed to the government and the parents to supplement their efforts in a move to eradicate the devastating disease.
’We want to ensure that youth turn out in large number for HIV testing and counseling,’ said the project manager.
A clinical officer at the Mwananyamala Angaza health centre, Rosera Ngua said that her centre had managed to reach out many youths through seminars and sporting activities.
The board is made up of members from seventeen countries—eleven from US and Europe and six from Africa.
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