|
Kikwete launches anti-HIV programme
2006-09-10 09:22:02
By Observer Reporter
President Jakaya Kikwete yesterday launched an anti-HIV programme that aims at sensitizing the communities on HIV/AIDS, bring hope to people living with the virus where there is no hope, and alleviate the impact of the pandemic to households from all regions of Tanzania.
The launching event that attracted hundreds of religious personnel, development partners and individuals took place at the Biblical Counseling and Intercession Centre (BCIC) located at Mbezi Beach on the outskirts of Dar es Salaam.
Christened Hakuna Lisilowezekana the 7bn/- HIV/AIDS Programme has established two prevention projects.
’Bora Subiri’ for the youth and unmarried people, and ’Tosheka Naye’ for the married couples.
The programme which is being spearheaded by a consortium of WAPO Mission and other religious groups in the country will be implemented in five zones, and expected to reach about 1,923,324 people in its first three years and eight months tenure.
According to Bishop Sylvester Gamanywa of WAPO Mission, the programme would among other things dwell on increasing fidelity among married couples by being faithful to their marriage vows, as the proportion of youth (15-24 age bracket) and other unmarried people who practice sexual abstinence.
This programme intends to harmonize behavioural change among the society as well as bringing back the community to adhere to the polite ethics of living such as being faithful to their marriage vows, said Bishop Gamanywa, who is the programme’s National Coordinator.
Meanwhile, workers at the Ministry of Safety and Public Security yesterday launched a savings and credit co-operative societies (SACCOS) scheme in an event that was witnessed by President Kikwete and a number of police officers.
The co-operative to be known as URA/Polisi SACCOS has been established by the workers in collaboration with the CRDB Bank.
Speaking during the Launching ceremony, CRDB’s Director Dr. Charles Kimei said the bank would work hand in hand with the new co-operative to ensure that it attains the members’ goals
’’It is my pleasure that CRDB has jointly collaborated by the police forces in the strategy that led to the formation of SACCOS we are launching today. The aim is to help solving your capital-related problems,’’ Dr Kimei said.
He said the logic behind the move was that, despite the commercial banks to embark on soft loans and credit schemes to various workers, still there has been a deficiency in meeting the workers’ basic needs.
Most of the banks have not been able to put in place right machinery that could genuinely solve the people’s problems, he said.
Dr. Kimei was optimistic that the new SACCOS would cater for more than 29,000 employees currently on the pay slip of the Ministry.
Some of the loans to be offered by the SACCOS include house loans, education, emergency, business, agriculture and money transfer.
|
