|
WAMA to construct maternity ward in Coast Region
2008-01-21 09:10:12
By Patrick Kisembo
The WAMA Foundation will spend 5m/- contributed by the African Diplomatic Spouses Group in 2007 to construct a special maternity ward at a health centre in Mkuranga District, Coast Region.
This was revealed last Friday at the State House in Dar es Salaam when the First Lady, Salma Kikwete, hosted a sherry party for wives of ambassadors in the country in welcoming the year 2008.
Mama Kikwete said: We truly appreciate your assistance towards WAMA efforts to improve the lives of women and children of Tanzania.
When we met last year here, I shared with you my future plans.
I thank those who supported me , others involved me in their activities and others contributed financially, she said.
Mama Kikwete reminded the diplomatic spouses group of her resolve to assist in the girl-child`s education, to curb new infections of the AIDS virus amongst youths and to reduce mortality rate of women when giving birth.
I am glad that I was able to implement most of the plans that I told you last year,she said.
She said WAMA sponsored 150 girls from all the regions in the Mainland and 10 from the Isles to pursue education.
We are expecting to sponsor again 150 girls while continuing to support those from last year.
Our objective is to support students from Form One up to Form Four, she said.
She told the diplomatic spouses group that their efforts are also aimed at increasing the number of girls who excel in institutions of higher learning.
Mama Kikwete said apart from assisting girls in education, her foundation constructed dormitories at Ngongo Secondary School in Lindi Region.
We are also building two secondary schools in Rufiji, Coast Region, and Mwitero in Lindi Region in partnership with Nakayama Foundation of Japan.
She said WAMA believes that with these projects, students will have a conducive atmosphere for studies and more opportunities for children to receive education.
Speaking on behalf of the diplomatic spouses group, Seline Juma, wife of the Democratic Republic of Congo ambassador in Tanzania, said they were happy with the invitation by the First Lady.
We have been working closely with the fist lady and this year wish is a great thing to meet together again, she said.
On contribution of funds this year, Seline Juma said they were yet to contribute until May this year.
She said it would be important if the first lady takes them to the projects to give chance for the spouses to see for their eyes and learn from what she has been doing.
This also will encourage most of our people to contribute more on such projects, she said.
It has been a custom for the first ladies to conduct diplomatic spouse group ceremony in welcoming the New Year in the country.
|
