Dar es Salaam. Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania on Thursday, December 1, 2022.
Govt, stakeholders call for heightened efforts to end AID epidemic in Tanzania
President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Thursday acknowledged that while Tanzania has made significant strides in the efforts to end the AIDS epidemic, the East African nation still has a long way to until it accomplishes its zero new HIV infections target.
Speaking during the commemoration of World Aids Day in Lindi, the Head of State directed authorities to put efforts into an effective strategy in preventing new infections as well as Strengthening HIV testing services and the use of antiretroviral drugs (ARV) to prevent Aids deaths.
“We have accomplished a great deal in fighting HIV and AIDS but we still have a long way to go,” said Dr Samia during the event.
Samia’s statement comes one day after a new report launched in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday observed that the key populations in Tanzania still lag behind when it comes to testing and treatment.
Titled ‘Dangerous Inequalities’ the report shows early testing, prevention and treatment measures have slowed down, hence Aids-related deaths and new HIV/Aids cases are rising.
On Thursday, President Samia urged the Healthy Ministry, relevant authorities and stakeholders to put more energy into campaigns and education to stop new HIV infections.
“There is an infection among our youth aged 15 – 24, if we cannot prevent it now, our journey to end this disease will be very difficult,” said President Samia.
According to UNAIDS data, Tanzania has over the past ten 10 years consistently reduced new HIV infections and reduced Aids-related deaths by 46.6 per cent and 50 per cent respectively.
Speaking earlier during the event, United States Ambassador to Tanzania Donald Wright said that although Tanzania has made significant progress towards achieving epidemic control there are still areas that needed to be addressed together to end HIV in Tanzania.
“20 years ago, for example, there were only a thousand people on antiretroviral treatment in Tanzania,” Mr Wright said. “This means that HIV was a death sentence, today there are more than 1.5 million Tanzanians who are receiving this life-saving treatment.”
The envoy noted that with proper care and treatment, people living with HIV can now live healthy and fulfilling life.
REA picks Multiconsult, Norplan Tanzania to expand electricity access
The Tanzania Rural Energy Agency (REA) has picked Multiconsult and Norplan Tanzania to support a €100 million project aiming to expand electricity access across nine regions of Tanzania with about 1,500 villages as well as to hybridize two remote diesel grids.
According to a statement released on Thursday, the project will support the implementation of the National Rural Electrification Program in Tanzania by connecting tens of thousands of rural households to the grid.
Currently, only 25 per cent of rural households in Tanzania are connected to the national grid or mini-grids, according to the statement. The project will contribute to bringing the number closer to the national objective of 75 per cent by 2030.
Multiconsult’s role in the project is to provide technical assistance services for the design and supervision of works for the various grid extension lots, as well as the hybrid generation systems which will combine new solar power with existing diesel generator units.
The team will also execute a baseline survey and impact assessment, each with 3,000 respondents, as well as the monitoring of environmental and social compliance.
The work will start in the first quarter of 2023 and is planned to be completed within 24 months. The total value of the contract is approximately NOK 50 million, financed by the French Development Agency.
Govt launches SDG Investor Map
Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa on Wednesday launched Tanzania’s SDG Investor Map, a market intelligence tool guiding the private sector in identifying investment themes that have significant potential to advance sustainable development goals.
The Tanzania SDGs Investor Map seeks to address the need for more private capital to be channelled toward emerging opportunities and for funding to contribute to the SDGs.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation Stergomena Tax launched the platform on behalf of the prime minister at the official opening of the first-ever Tanzania SDG Investment Forum held in the port city of Dar es Salaam.
The forum, which brought together over 200 domestic and foreign investors in the conference room and 300 online from across the world, aims to mobilize capital for the investment opportunities identified by the SDG Investor Map.
The Tanzania SDG Investor Map was developed by the Prime Minister’s Office responsible for investment, the Ministry of Finance and Planning, the Tanzania Investment Center (TIC), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Tanzania country office.
“To our foreign and local investors, I once again welcome you to invest in Tanzania. Please feel free to call in Tanzania Investment Center, which is the first point of call for potential investors,” said Majaliwa.
He added that the TIC was the primary agency of the government responsible for coordinating, promoting, and facilitating investors who express interest in setting up business in Tanzania.
UNDP Resident Representative in Tanzania Christine Musisi said one of the major obstacles identified by the UNDP is the limited availability of market intelligence information around SDG investment opportunities.
To address this information gap, the UNDP developed the SDG Investor Map methodologies, which provide market intelligence to help private investors to identify investment opportunities in key areas of the economy and to make clear, actionable data that combines impact and profit, Musisi said.
“Investing in the SDGs should not only be desirable but a practical decision that contributes to a sustainable future for us all,” she said, adding that achieving the SDGs will create a world that is more sustainable, equitable, and prosperous.
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One Response
“The total value of the contract is approximately NOK 50 million, financed by the French Development Agency.”
What happens to the REA levy we all pay with LUKU bill? Do we still need foreign finance? Can anyone explain?