Goodwill Ambassador Danny Glover visits HIV/AIDS programs in Tanzania

Danny Glover, UNICEF Ambassador and famous actor, traveled to Tanzania in July 2009 to support HIV testing efforts, counseling for PMTCT (prevention of mother-to-child transmission) and the fight against stigma in the country. Mr. Glover’s brother is HIV positive, and Mr. Glover sees the need for youth support clinics, testing, and a reduction in stigma. He also supports PMTCT efforts and the ongoing support for pregnant women who are HIV positive, including the involvement of their husbands or boyfriends.

During his visit to Tanzania, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Danny Glover talks with a mother who has brought a child to a clinic and is waiting to be attended by a nurse.

Mr. Glover met with youth from the Zanzibar Association of People Living with HIV and AIDS and talked with people from the Zanzibar Youth Education Development and Environment Support Association, who provide a range of support services. Mr. Glover said that HIV stigma is “one of the most damaging” factors at work in Tanzania. We feel that this is true across the world, and we couldn’t agree more.

Read the full article here.

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Club Raises Awareness for Disaffected Children in Tanzania

This article, published in the Arizona Daily Wildcat (the newspaper for the University of Arizona), discusses an international service trip similar to AIDSTanzania at William and Mary. It’s called Support for International Change, and it sends groups of students to Tanzania to promote HIV testing and awareness in northern Tanzania.

As one group member described, the trips are like a study abroad experience, except you’re volunteering as a member of the community and getting involved with helping others, as opposed to just looking. That sums it up quite well. Keep up the good work, Support for International Change!

U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi praises Tanzania

Nancy Pelosi commended Tanzania to Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete last week for its transparent and proper use of grants (read the full article here).

“Mr. president…rest assured that you have good friends from both the Republican and Democratic camps,” said Ms Pelosi. Mr. Kikwete responded by encouraging more support for Tanzania: “Help us to mobilise US investors to come to Tanzania and exploit many opportunities available in our country, particularly after the support granted through the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).”

Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives

Hopefully, that will happen – and the solid relationship between Tanzania and the U.S. will continue to grow. Case in point, Tanzania just opened its new chancery building in Washington, D.C. (1232 22nd Street, NW) and President Kikwete met with President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during his visit to the U.S.

New HIV/AIDS Care and Treatment Center at Mount Meru Regional Hospital

Arusha Times, Tanzania: Centre Promises New Lease of Life Amid HIV/Aids Threat

A new HIV/AIDS Care and Treatment Center has just opened at Mount Meru Regional Hospital in the Arusha Municipal, near AIDSTanzania’s community partner the U.A.A.C.C.  The center is funded through PEPFAR (U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), and it will provide services to the 1.3 million residents of five districts of the Arusha Region and the neighboring Manyara Region.

It will be exciting to see if this new center creates any changes in HIV prevalence or in the perception of availability of treatment options in this area. The Arusha region is a large, diverse region with many people living far away from cities where treatment can be accessed. Perhaps this is an opportunity for a partnership between this Center, AIDSTanzania, and the U.A.A.C.C. in the future…

This Center is sure to create positive change in the lives of those living with HIV in Tanzania and hopefully have an impact on prevention as well.

Read the article here.

Metro TeenAIDS

One of our members heard of an organization in D.C. that did HIV/AIDS education, outreach, and testing for young people.  Since their work mirrors that of our own in Tanzania and we are looking for a domestic model, we thought we’d check them out.  This is their site – they do a lot of great work.  Even though our domestic trip this winter will probably be to Petersburg, VA, we can still learn a lot form Metro TeenAIDS.

http://www.metroteenaids.org/