PM affirms strengthening of HIV response

PRIME Minister Kassim Majaliwa said the government in partnership with its stakeholders is working on strengthening the National AIDS Trust Fund (ATF) which supports national HIV response.

The ATF basket was established under the Tanzania Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS) which also supports people living with HIV, strengthening HIV prevention, care and treatment services.

Premier Majaliwa made the statement during the ATF Marathon organised by the TACAIDS to raise funds for strengthening the basket.

Elaborating, the PM said the country’s ability to combat HIV/AIDS is low as donor funding on HIV in some priority areas has been slashed.

He said this in a speech read on his behalf by the Deputy Minister in the Prime minister’s Office (Labour, Youth, Employment and Persons with Disability) Patrobas Katambi, adding that stakeholders including religious leaders should routinely team up with the government in the fight against HIV/AIDS, especially among the youth in the country.

He said the HIV infection among the youth was growing; hence he reiterated the need for concerted efforts among stakeholders to combat the disease.

Meanwhile the PM said President Samia Suluhu Hassan is expected to grace the commemoration of World Aids Day to be held at the National Level in Lindi Region on December 1^st.

The World AIDS Day to be commemorated under the theme “Equalise” is organised in Lindi region at the national level alongside other several activities including scientific symposium organised by the TACAIDS.

The theme for this year’s AIDS Day is (“Equalise”,) which emphasises on eliminating the inequalities that have slowed the fight against the disease.

In a separate development, Mr Majaliwa has directed councils to use own revenues in implementing various development projects instead of waiting for funds from the central government.

Mr Majaliwa issued the directive after inspecting the progress of the construction of six classrooms at Mwandege Secondary School in Mkuranga District, Coast region.

Equally, he instructed Mkuranga District Executive Director, Mwantumu Mgonja, to set aside some 120m/- from the council’s own revenue for the construction of the school’s administration building by January 2023.

The PM said the sixth-phase government under President Samia Suluhu Hassan is well organised to serve Tanzanians as well as stimulating development activities in their areas.

“This is the time to work, I am satisfied with the standards of construction of the classrooms in the school…continue to manage quality on other projects, let’s embrace wishes of our President and help her realise her dreams in serving Tanzanians,” he commended.

Moreover, the Prime Minister said President Samia’s vision is to ensure that the government reaches to Tanzanians, wherever they are from the grassroots level by bringing various social services including health, water, education, electricity and communication.

On the other hand, he called upon all farmers in the country to use the current early rains to start farming.

“The early rains are for planting, let’s go and start farming, let’s plant crops that can grow in a short period so that we get food,” he said.

On his part, Deputy Minister in the President’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Governments), Dr Festo Dugange said that Coast region has received 6.8bn/- for the construction of 341 classrooms.

Mkuranga Member of Parliament, Mr Abdallah Ulega,who doubles as Deputy Minister for Livestock and Fisheries thanked President Samia Suluhu Hassan for endorsing funds for the implementation of various development projects in Mkuranga District and the Coast region at large.