THE FOUNDATION EMBARKS INTO A NEW TB/HIV PROJECT WITH SAVE THE CHILDREN
Admin
May 9, 2016
Recently the Benjamin W. Mkapa Foundation (BMF) signed an agreement with The Save the Children Fund to implement TB/HIV project in the country. The TB/HIV project financed by the Global Fund to fight against AIDS, TB and Malaria is to be implemented in Tanzanian for approximately 2 years with various partners under the Save the children as the Prime Recipient. The Mkapa Foundation signed an agreement of Tshs 4.2 billion which will support programme interventions in four (4) regions of Rukwa, Katavi, Tabora and Kigoma.
Dr. Ellen Mkondya-Senkoro, CEO of BMF and Mr. Steve Thorne, Country Director of Save the Children signing the agreement in Dar es Salaam
This signing event held on 27th April 2016 at the Save the Children Offices in Mikocheni, Dar Es Salaam, marked the kick-off of the field implementation. The event was hosted by Save the Children who are primary recipient and was attended by representatives from other sub-recipient organizations apart from BMF, which are Africare, Amref Health Africa and Management and Development for Health (MDH). Other stakeholders were representatives from the Government of Tanzania including Ministry of Health Community Development, Gender, Children and Elderly, Tanzania AIDS Commission (TACAIDS), and various Civil Society stakeholders on HIV and TB including people living with HIV and the media.
Speaking at the signing of the agreements, the Country Director of Save the Children, Mr. Steve Thorne said that, “Save the Children was selected as the Principal Recipient of the grant under the private sector and will complement the Government efforts in combatting the TB and HIV challenges. They intend to work in close collaboration with the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) and National TB and Leprosy Programme (NTLP)”.
Representative from various organizations and stakeholders witness the signing of agreements between Save the Children (as PR) and SR organizations
The implementation of this program will cover regions of Mbeya, Iringa, Njombe, Ruvuma, Rukwa, Katavi, Tabora, Kigoma, Shinyanga, Simiyu, Kagera, Singida, Dar es Salaam and all key population interventions, he continued.
The Chief of Party/Programme Director, Dr. Godwin Asuquo from Save the Children pointed out that the agreement signing commence the start of implementation of program field activities whereby by this week each sub-recipient organization will be assigned an official field program vehicle acquired by the grants funds.
Moreover the CEO of BMF, Dr Ellen Mkondya Senkoro, stated that the Foundation is delighted for being among this coalition of 4 sub-recipient of this program, and she assured its full commitment to the implementation of the programme for the mentioned regions. She further added, “we have been a sub-recipient of Global Fund through the Government financing channel for almost 9 years, thus we are ready to work in partnership with Save the Children and others as well as utilize the best practice and lessons learnt in ensuring programme effectiveness, efficiency and more important attaining intended results”.
The entire project will focus on enhancing HIV prevention programmes services, which is estimated to to reach 194,688 men, women, young people and children with HIV counselling and testing. It will further enhance prevention of Tuberculosis among People Living with HIV and AIDS. Likewise, 11,130 men who have sex with men and 124,500 sex workers will be reached with life-saving HIV and TB services, among others.