White House press releases on the Tanzania visit:
By Emmanuel Rubagumya
Health Focus Magazine
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania – President George W. Bush's Feb. 17 visit to the East African nation of Tanzania brought a major boost in the country's health care sector.
Bush and Tanzania's President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete signed the largest project in the Millennium Challenge Corporation's history – a $698 million (US) compact with Tanzania that will benefit 4.8 million Tanzanians.
"It was very moving for those of us racing through the streets of Dar es Salaam seeing thousands of people greeting us," Bush said. He described Kikwete as a strong leader.
"I was proud to sign along with the president the MCC compact of nearly $700 million [US] that will be used for upgrading road networks, energy and water sectors. My hope is that it will be part of efforts to transform this country."
Bush spent four days in Tanzania before traveling to Rwanda, Ghana and Liberia. He arrived in Tanzania from Benin, the first stop on his historic second trip to Africa.
Referring to his Africa projects, namely the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS (PEPFAR) and President's Malaria Initiative (PMI), Bush said, "I don't want people to guess whether or not the generosity of America will continue.
"Children should not die needlessly because of mosquito bites. We support Africa not out of guilt but out of compassion."
Presidents Bush and Kikwete congratulate each other after signing the $698.1 million Millennium Challenge Compact at a ceremony during Bush's four-day trip to Tanzania.
Bush called on Congress to reauthorize PEPFAR for another five years.
Kikwete said, "Today we have signed the MCC compact, the largest ever. It will help us address critical areas of our infrastructural needs. We shall be able to give the infrastructural sector the priority it deserves."
Under Bush's administration, the number of people receiving anti-retrovirals to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa has grown from 50,000 to more than 1.2 million people.
The Tanzanian government launched a $40 million (USD) national plan of action for vulnerable children at a ceremony witnessed by U.S. First Lady Laura Bush.
Details of the plan were revealed by Dr. Aisha Kigoda, deputy minister for Health and Social Welfare, in Dar es Salaam.
Kigoda said Tanzania was ready to meet the needs of its children as stipulated by international conventions and domestic laws.
Tanzania's first lady, Salma Kikwete, attended the ceremony. She said the number of children living in difficult and dangerous environment is increasing at an alarming rate.
Addressing the gathering, Salma Kikwete said HIV orphans constitute 42 percent of children younger than 18.
"More than half of the guardians are either grandmothers or grandfathers of more than 65 years of age," she said, adding that Tanzania would have about 4 million orphans and vulnerable children by 2010.
"Clans and blood relationship have become pillars of the society in guarding, taking care and providing assistance to these children," Salma Kikwete said.
Laura Bush commended the Kikwetes for voluntarily getting HIV tests last year.
She also discussed the 2003 creation of PEPFAR and that Tanzania was among the first few countries in the world to establish a plan to provide medicine for about 100,000 people. She said the people of America would play a role in supporting the plan.
"I am sure Tanzania and USA can restore the lives and hope of orphaned children if we work together," she said. "It breaks my heart to know that little children are dying needlessly because of a mosquito bite."
Citing the success registered in the fight against malaria in Zanzibar, an island off the Tanzanian coast. Bush said it "stands as an example to all on the continent."
Also commenting on the success on Zanzibar, Kikwete said there are thousands of women and children who would have died of malaria but who are still alive in Tanzania and all over the continent because of the President's Malaria Initiative.
"In 2004, in the outpatient clinic, 500,000 malaria patients were treated. In 2007, only 10,000 [were treated]. In 2004 on Zanzibar, 40 percent of the patients tested positive for malaria. In 2007, only 5 percent" tested positive, Kikwete said.
According to Kikwete, thousands of children are now being cared for by their parents rather than becoming orphans because of the PEPFAR program.
President Bush and the first lady toured the Amana District Hospital, which the United States helped build to serve more than 1 million people with 13 dispensaries.
In the Arusha region, Bush announced that the United States and Tanzania, in partnership with the World Bank and the Global Fund, plan to distribute 5.2 million free bed nets in Tanzania in six months – enough to provide a net for every child between the ages of 1 and 5.
They also participated in a roundtable with HIV/AIDS patients to hear testimonials from those being treated under PEPFAR.
Worldwide, sub-Saharan Africa is the most affected region with HIV/AIDS. It is estimated that at least 1 million children under 5 years die of malaria every year in sub-Saharan Africa.
Emmanuel Rubagumya is a member of AHCJ and managing editor of Health Focus Magazine, based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
