First Lady of Tanzania Visits Monduli District Hospital Care and Treatment Centre
Posted by
Jane Shuma
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
April 9, 2010
On 24 March 2010, the first lady of Tanzania — her excellence Mama Salma Kikwete — visited the Monduli District Hospital HIV Care and Treatment Centre (CTC), one of the clinics EGPAF supports in Tanzania’s Arusha region. Mama Kikwete’s objectives for the visit were to:
- See the good work EGPAF is doing at Monduli District Hospital CTC;
- See the outcomes of the support EGPAF has given to the hospital, which includes the building of the CTC in 2008.
- Advocate for: a) male involvement in HIV testing and treatment; b) the use of HIV care and treatment and prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) services; and adherence of people living with HIV to their antiretroviral (ARV) drug regimens.
- Give hope to both children and adults living with HIV.
Upon her arrival to the CTC, the first lady was taken around the clinic by the acting District Medical Officer, Dr. Mahella Njile, and EGPAF’s Zonal Field Office Program Coordinator, Andrew Gwaja. The first lady was very much attracted to the “children’s corner” room at the CTC, where she spent quite some time talking to the children (who were between the aged of 6 and 14) without interference from the media and security personnel. She gave hope to the children by encouraging them to study hard and live happily like any other children, despite their HIV status.
The first lady visits with children in the "children's corner" at Monduli CTC. |
The first lady’s visit was coloured by songs from a Maasai women’s group and poems from children and adults living with HIV and AIDS, who said thank you to the first lady for her visit to the CTC and also to the surrounding Monduli community.
Maasai women perform for the first lady. |
In their poem, children living with HIV stated that they don’t fear death because they have been counseled well and they adhere to their drugs. They are confident that they will study at the university level. |
In his speech during the visit, EGPAF-Tanzania’s Technical Director, Jereon Van’t Pad Bosch, stated that male involvement is very crucial in preventing HIV and AIDS. He urged the Monduli community to use the facilities provided by EGPAF to help create a generation free of HIV. He also commended the first lady and her foundation (WAMA Foundation) for their good work in advocating for reproductive and child health services.
Finally, in her speech, the first lady stressed men’s role in HIV counseling and testing. She said that the HIV rate in the country will decline if men are actively involved in the fight against HIV and AIDS. She also urged women to use the available health services when pregnant, and avoid delivering their babies at home as it risks their own lives and that of their babies. She encouraged people living with HIV (PLHIV) to continue using lifesaving ARV drugs, and to use facilities such as the CTC.
First lady Mama Salma Kikwete gives her speech. |
The first lady donated 1 million Tanzanian shillings from her foundation to the adult PLHIV group of Monduli (which is called MWANAVUMO), as well as 1 million Tanzanian shillings to the PLHIV children’s group of Monduli.
Thank you to EGPAF staff and WAMA Foundation staff for making this event successful.
Jane Shuma is the program officer for communications and outreach with EGPAF-Tanzania.