The GGML Kili Challenge Campaign coordinated by Geita Gold Mining Limited (GGML) in collaboration with the Tanzania AIDS Control Commission (TACAIDS) this year expects to collect 2.3bn/-.
These funds, which are collected every year, are aimed at enhancing the efforts of the government to achieve the vision of Three Zero goals initiative, which are envisioned as zero new HIV infections, zero stigma and zero deaths from AIDS.
This was said in Moshi-Kilimanjaro region, on Wednesday by the Vice President of AngloGold Ashanti- GGML, Simon Shayo, who also manages Sustainability projects on the part of Ghana and Tanzania, during this year’s launch event to raise funds as donations for the GGM Kili Challenge campaign.
Citing the history of the campaign back to 2002, he thanked the government for supporting the initiative, noting that as stakeholders in the fight against HIV/AIDS, GGML has received backing that enabled the Kili Challenge to take great steps to become an international fund, involving mountaineers and cyclists from all continents and more than 20 countries.
This year we have come again to continue the fight against HIV and AIDS, so GGML in collaboration with the Tanzania AIDS Control Commission in the country, we welcome other stakeholders and various companies to contribute and participate in this campaign.
“In particular, we would like to recognize the cooperation of some companies and various institutions that have already come forward to contribute to the fund in this year 2023. I am confident that the stakeholders who came forward today will greatly help us achieve the goal of collecting 2.3bn/-,” he pointed out.
Elaborating, he noted that HIV/AIDS is still a big problem in the country as the statistics of new HIV infections are not satisfactory, especially for special groups including young people.
Presiding over, the Kilimanjaro Regional Commissioner, Nurdin Hassan Babu hailed the company and TACAIDS for continuing to use the Mount Kilimanjaro initiative as an attraction to raise funds for the fight against the disease.
He said that this matter has contributed significantly in promoting the famous mountain in the world, thus increasing the number of tourists.
“I welcome ideas, advice from you and other stakeholders on how to further improve this campaign…I call upon individuals, organizations, institutions and other companies to follow the example of GGML by devoting themselves more to contribute resources to the fight against HIV and AIDS in the country, especially in this period when the donations of philanthropists from abroad continue to decrease for various reasons,” he said.
The mountain climbing exercise is expected to start on July 14 and end on July 20 this year.