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NGO to launch hunger-free policy dialogue today
2007-09-24 08:52:50
By Guardian Reporter
Action Aid International (Tanzania) will today launch a policy dialogue as part of its five-year hunger-free campaigns.
The dialogue, to be launched by Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives deputy minister Christopher Chiza and to be held in Dar es Salaam, would bring together stakeholders from government and non-governmental organisations.
`The objective of this forum is to generate knowledge and stimulate debate on the underlying causes of hunger in the country, the successes, challenges and gaps in government policy, strategies and programmes,` Action Aid country director Rose Mushi said yesterday.
Four papers will be presented at the policy dialogue to stimulate meaningful contributions from the participants and it is envisaged that the dialogue will come up with a blueprint and way forward to end hunger and poverty in Tanzania.
Action Aid International, a leading anti-poverty development agency in over 40 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, strives to reduce by half the persistent hunger problem in Tanzania by 2015.
Poverty remains overwhelmingly high in rural areas where 87 per cent of the population lives.
`The hunger-free campaign we are launching on Monday (today) is also part and parcel of the fight against HIV/Aids as victims of the scourge require a balanced diet. But good food can not be available in the midst of food insecurity,` said Mushi.
The country director expressed satisfaction over the ongoing campaigns for voluntary HIV testing inaugurated by President Jakaya Kikwete in Dar es Salaam in July, this year. Many Tanzanians have been motivated to go for testing so as to know their HIV status.
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