Deputy Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Seif Rashid has hailed Ariel Glaser Pediatric Healthcare Initiative (AGPAHI) for running children’s camps yearly.
Deputy Minister for Health and Social Welfare,Dr Seif Rashid
Dr Rashid was gracing the occasion of closing a threeweek- long national (Ariel Camp) camp that took place at Uhuru Hostel in Moshi. For the last two years the camps were held in Mwanza.
He said the camps that bring together children from different regions (Simiyu, Geita and Shinyanga) helped them much to learn about their health, life skills and psychological mentoring.
AGPAHI works to eliminate paediatric AIDS and provides care and treatment for people living with HIV in Tanzania. It implements innovative strategies to respond to the national HIV epidemic and to ensure access to sustainable health services for children, women and families in collaboration with the government of Tanzania and partners including the Elizabeth Glaser Paediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF).
AGPAHI has formed 24 clubs with 635 children from the three regions that have helped the children in disclosure, make follow-up to health services, educate other children and realse their objectives in life.
Dr Rashid noted that it was imperative for other stakeholders in health and children’s rights to emulate AGPAHI in providing such services so as to assure them of growing with ethical standards.
Speaking on the occasion, AGPAHI Director General, Mr Laurean Bwanakunu said his organisation aimed at eliminating AIDS in children and block transmission of the same.
“The service we provide include medication and care, bring to an end transmission of HIV from mothers to children as well as to provide birth control initiative,” said the director.
In their speech read by Masunga Lugomela, the children said they learned a lot in their journey and Ariel Camp in Kilimanjaro that brought together 48 children, who exchanged a lot of ideas and skills.
Apart from training, the children had time to tour part of Mount Kilimanjaro, Makinuka Mori waterfalls in Marangu and got in detail Chagga’s history. “We are so happy that we have learnt a lot and this is a lifetime opportunity so we thank AGPAHI and others who made it possible for us … may the Government extend its hand so that such camps continue in coming years and cater for more children,” they requested in their speech.
By DEUS NGOWI, Tanzania Daily News