MINISTER GWAJIMA CALLS FOR KEEN OVERSIGHT OF USAID FUNDED KIZAZI HODARI ACTIVITY

The Minister for Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups, Dr. Dorothy Gwajima, delivers a speech during the official launch of the Kizazi Hodari activity funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID )in Dodoma yesterday. The project, aimed at supporting the government of Tanzania to improve the health, well-being and protection of Orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) and youth aged 0-17 in high HIV burden communities in 12 regions, is managed jointly by Deloitte and the Tanzania Evangelical Lutheran Church.

The Country Director for the US Agency for International Development (USAID), Kate Somvongsiri, delivers her speech during the launch of the USAID-funded Kizazi Hodari activity in Dodoma.

Deloitte Consulting Director, Zahra Nensi, speaks during the official launching of the USAID-funded Kizazi Hodari activity in Dodoma. The project to support the government of Tanzania to improve the health, well-being and protection of Orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) and youth aged 0-17 in high HIV burden communities in 12 regions, is managed jointly by Deloitte and the Tanzania Evangelical Lutheran Church.

The Chief of Party for Kizazi Hodari Southern Zone, Dorothy Matoyo, speaks at the ceremony to officiate the launch of the USAID-funded activity in Dodoma. The project is targeting to help the government of Tanzania to improve the health, well-being and protection of Orphans and vulnerable children (OVC ) and youth aged 0-17 in high HIV burden communities in 12 regions, is managed jointly by Deloitte and the Tanzania Evangelical Lutheran Church.

The Minister for Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups, Dr. Dorothy Gwajima (centre), shakes hands with Director for Deloitte Consulting, Zahra Nensi after launching the Kizazi Hodari activity funded by US Agency for International Development (USAID), in Dodoma. Looking is the Secretary General of Tanzania Evangelical Lutheran Church, Eng. Robert Kitundu. 

A cross section of religious leaders and other invitees who attended the launch of the Kizazi Hodari activity funded by USAID in Dodoma. The project is managed jointly by Deloitte and the Tanzania Evangelical Lutheran Church.

The Minister for Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups, Dr. Dorothy Gwajima, has called on players to ensure proper implementation of Kizazi Hodari activity that targets to maintain health, well-being and protection of orphans and in vulnerable situations with high risk of HIV infections.

Kizazi Hodari is a five–year (2022-2027) activity funded by the American people through the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to support the government of Tanzania to improve the health, well-being and protection of Orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) and youth aged 0-17 in high HIV burden communities in 12 regions.

The activities contribute to the achievement of the joint United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids (UNAIDS) 95-95-95 goals through OVC comprehensive and preventive services.

The key implementers of the project are the Ministry for Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups, President’s Office local Government and Regional Administration, Deloitte Consulting Limited and the Tanzania Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Deloitte manages five regions in the project in the Southern Zone chapter of the project, namely, Lindi, Mtwara, Ruvuma, Iringa and Njombe.

Speaking during launch of the project yesterday, Dr. Gwajima said apart from key thematic areas identified in the project that is to be implemented in 1 regions in the country, it was important for the project to also dwell on giving the right education on nurturing, growth and early development of children.

“It is better that the in the course of implementation of the project proper education is incorporated that will prepare boys to graduate into better men in the future, “she noted.

The minister said a total of 138,944 orphans and households will be covered under the project.

Earlier in he event, Deloitte Director, Ms. Zahra Nensi, said the project aimed at widening the horizon for identification of children who are HIV positive and to integrate them into the mainstream health services aimed at reducing the HIV viral load.

“In all our activities children, adolescents and youth have been the epicenter of our work. This is because we recognize, and we believe that, we must prioritise and strategically invest in the health, well-being, protection and education because our social-economic future depends on it,” said the Deloitte boss.

The Deloitte executive also noted that another aim was to improve the economic situation of adolescent girls and caretakers of children living under vulnerable situations. “The major outcome targeted in increase in HIV infection preventive services, keeping at bay harassment of children and boosting response programme for orphans and youth, “said Zahra.

On the other hand, USAID Country Director, Kate Msomvongsiri, said upon completion of the project, it was envisioned that it will have employed and given various services to 90 per cent of the targeted children and youth.

The USAID official noted that most of the youth are from centers that are under the US President’s Emergency Programme for Aids Relief (PEPFAR).