United States Ambassador to Tanzania Hon Donald J. Wright commended the National Council of People Living with HIV(NACOPHA), for its efforts towards achieving Global and National objectives of 95 95 95 by 2030, together with its efforts to raise the voice of People living with HIV in Tanzania by ensuring that they are accessing their basic human right like any other person. This was said by Ambassador Wright while in NACOPHA Pavilion during World Aids Day Commemoration for the year 2021, which was commemorated in Mbeya Region at Ruandanzovwe grounds.
NACOPHA Chief Executive officer Mr. Deogratius Rutatwa conveyed his appreciation and thanks to Ambassador Wright for visiting NACOPHA Pavilion but also to the People of the United States of America through The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for the continuing support in the course of implementation of global and national objectives on HIV. He elaborated more on the projects which are supported by USAID such as HEBU TUYAJENGE project which is implemented into 65 councils in 22 Regions in Tanzania mainland.
However, Mr Rutatwa explained the approaches/models used in project implementation as well as the expected results for the last two years of project implementation in line with the objectives of attaining 95 95 95 HIV targets. He elaborates on the responsibilities of NACOPHA including the facilitation and implementation of PLHIV empowerment groups and the development of empowerment groups as well as future prospects of opening a microfinance bank as part of NACOPHA’s objectives for self-reliance and economic sustainability
Speaking during AIDS commemoration day 2021, Ambassador Donald congratulated the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania and other stakeholders/development partners for their initiatives towards HIV response in Tanzania. He added that the achievement in HIV response in Tanzania is contributed by the Government involvement and commitments through the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Health, NACP and TACAIDS.
Ambassador Donald also appreciated the major role that had been played by NACP through different initiatives that were used in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic that was not only a problem in Tanzania but also the entire world, NACP implemented issued guidelines by the Ministry of Health together with the issue of extending the time for dispensing ARV from three Months to six Months different from how it was formerly before Covid pandemic.
UNAIDS Country Director Dr Leo ZEKENG commended NACOPHA for ensuring that people who are living with HIV are respected by everyone and they are accessing all human rights including a meaningful engagement of People Living with HIV in HIV response. Dr. Leo ZEKENG further insisted on the issue of ensuring that no child is born HIV positive by considering the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) so as to achieve zero 0-0-0. Infection.
