Marekani na Tanzania waadhimisha miaka 15 ya ushirikiano katika kupambana na VVU/UKIMWI

Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the United States of America Inmi K. Patterson shakes hand with the Prime Minister Honorable Kassim Majaliwa after they formally launched a campaign recognizing the 15-year anniversary of the United States and Tanzania’s partnership on the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) during a ceremony at Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre in Dar es Salaam yesterday. (Photo: Courtesy of the US Embassy).

Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the United States of America Inmi K. Patterson fields questions from the media after the launch of a campaign recognizing the 15-year anniversary of the United States and Tanzania’s partnership on the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) during a ceremony at Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre in Dar es Salaam yesterday. On her right is the Minister for Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Ms. Ummy Mwalimu. (Photo: Courtesy of the US Embassy)

Summary of Chargé d’Affaires Patterson’s Remarks

Launch Event for the #PEPFAR15 Campaign, Dar es Salaam

30 Mei 2018

Before PEPFAR began, an HIV diagnosis was a death sentence in Tanzania and across southern and eastern Africa.  In the 1990s and early 2000s, few people got tested for HIV; and only about 1,500 people in Tanzania were able to access treatment.  

Kabla ya kuanzishwa kwa PEPFAR, Mpango Wa dharura wa rais wa Marekani dhidi ya UKIMWI, ukipimwa na kubainika kuwa na virusi vya ukimwi ilikuwa ni kama adhabu ya kifo kwa Tanzania na nchi zingine kusini na mashariki ya Afrika. Katika miaka ya elfu moja mia tisa na tisini na mwanzoni mwa miaka ya elfu mbili, watu wachache sana walikuwa wanapimwa virusi vya Ukimwi na ni watu takriban elfu moja na mia tano pekee walioweza kupata matibabu ya kufubaza Virusi Vya Ukimwi (VVU).

Since 2003, PEPFAR has worked closely with the Government of Tanzania, health workers, NGOs, and civil society to help more and more Tanzanians get tested and begin lifesaving treatment.  Earlier this month, we announced that PEPFAR will spend more than 1 trillion TZS (512 million USD) to improve HIV prevention, testing, and treatment in Tanzania through September 2019.  This brings PEPFAR’s total contributions in Tanzania to over 10 trillion TZS (4.5 billion USD).

Toka mwaka Elfu mbili na tatu, PEPFAR imefanya kazi kwa karibu na Serikali ya Tanzania, wahudumu wa afya, mashirika yasiyo ya kiserikali na asasi za kiraia katika kuwasaidia Watanzania wengi zaidi na zaidi kupima afya zao na kuanza matibabu ya kuokoa maisha yao. Mwanzoni mwa mwezi huu tulitangaza kuwa hadi kufikia mwezi Septemba mwaka elfu mbili na kumi na tisa, PEPFAR itatumia zaidi ya Shilingi trilioni moja (Takriban, Dola za Kimarekani milioni mia tano kumi na mbili) kuboresha jitihada za kuzuia maambukizi ya VVU, upimaji na matibabu. Hii inafanya jumla ya mchango wote wa PEPFAR nchini Tanzania kuwa  zaidi ya Shilingi trilioni kumi (sawa na Dola za Kimarekani bilioni nne nukta tano)

Between 1990 and 2003, the year PEPFAR began, 871,000 Tanzanians died of AIDS-related causes.  It was a time of hopelessness.  It was a time of despair.  I’m sure many people in this room have families and villages affected by AIDS.  Indeed, the devastation of the disease posed the biggest health and security risks the country has faced since its independence.

Kati ya mwaka elfu moja mia tisa tisini na elfu mbili na tatu, mwaka ambao PEPFAR ilianzishwa, watanzania wapatao laki nane na sabini na moja elfu walikufa kwa magonjwa yatokanayo na ukimwi. Kilikuwa ni kipindi kisicho na matumaini. Kilikuwa ni kipindi cha kukata tamaa. Nina uhakika wengi wetu hapa kwenye familia zetu au kwenye vijiji vyetu tuna watu wengi ambao wameathiriwa na ugonjwa wa Ukimwi. Ukweli ni kuwa, tangu nchi hii ipate uhuru, UKIMWI ulileta athari kubwa sana kwa afya na usalama nchini.

The number of Tanzanians who have lost their lives due to AIDS per year has fallen by 70% since PEPFAR began, from 110,000 deaths in 2003 to 33,000 in 2016. Idadi ya watanzania waliopoteza maisha yao kwa mwaka kutokana na Ukimwi imeshuka kwa asilimia sabini tokea PEPFAR ilipoanza, kutoka vifo laki moja na kumi elfu kwa mwaka elfu mbili na tatu mpaka elfu thelathini na tatu, kwa mwaka elfu mbili na kumi na sita.

This is the first time in modern history that we have the opportunity to control a disease without a vaccine or cure.  However, we are not there yet, and getting there will require concerted effort from all of us, including PEPFAR and its partners, the Government of Tanzania, civil society, and all Tanzanians.

Kwa mara ya kwanza katika historia ya zama za sasa tumepata fursa ya kudhibiti ugonjwa bila chanjo wala tiba. Lakini, bado hatujafika tunapotaka, na ili tufike pale, itahitajika jitihada  ya pamoja kutoka kwetu sote, ikiwemo PEPFAR na washirika wake, Serikali ya Tanzania, asasi za kiraia na watanzania wote kwa ujumla.

The results from the Tanzania HIV Impact Survey in December showed us that Tanzania has fallen behind other countries in the region.  Specifically, only about half of all people with HIV in Tanzania have been tested and know that they have HIV.  Tanzania’s neighbors such as Uganda, Malawi and Zambia have delivered much better results. 

Mwezi Desemba Mwaka jana, Tulipata matokeo toka Tanzania HIV Impact Survey (Utafiti juu ya athari za UKIMWI Tanzania), ambao ni Utafiti uliofanywa juu ya Madhara ya Ukimwi Tanzania; Matokeo haya yali tuonesha kwamba Tanzania imeshuka tena ukilinganisha na nchi nyingine za Ukanda huu. Nusu tu ya waathirika wa virusi vya ukimwi wamepimwa na kujua kuwa wana virusi. Nchi za jirani kama Uganda, Malawi na Zambia zimetoa matokeo mazuri zaidi.

  The U.S. Government currently provides more than 80% of all funding for HIV programs in Tanzania.  But here we are talking about Tanzanians’ health.  Surely, Tanzanians’ health must remain a top priority for the Tanzanian government, and so we call on the government to make the budget decisions that reflect a commitment to fighting deadly diseases, educating the public, and caring for the ill.

Kwa sasa, Serikali ya Marekani inatoa zaidi ya asilimia themanini ya gharama zote za programu za Ukimwi Tanzania. Lakini hapa tunazungumzia afya ya watanzania. Afya ya watanzania lazima ibaki kuwa suala la kipaumbele cha serikali ya Tanzania, hivyo, tunaiomba Serikali ya Tanzania kufanya maamuzi muhimu ya kufadhili bajeti yanayoonesha nia ya dhati ya kupambana na magonjwa haya yanayoua, kuelimisha jamii na kuwajali wagonjwa.   

Our goals in this campaign are also to reduce stigma and discrimination around HIV. 

Malengo yetu kwenye kampeni hii ni kupunguza unyanyapaa na kutengwa dhidi ya watu wenye Ukimwi.

During this campaign, we will work with you all and with people living with HIV across Tanzania to tell positive stories: stories of people living with HIV who were once weak and sick but who are now strong and healthy, stories of people who got tested early and began treatment before ever feeling sick, stories of HIV-positive people who have taken lifesaving medication to protect their spouses, stories of HIV-positive mothers who have taken lifesaving medication to protect their babies.

Katika kampeni hii, tutafanya kazi nanyi nyote, na watu wanaoishi na virusi vya Ukimwi Tanzania nzima  ili kueleza juu ya hadithi nzuri: hadithi za watu wanaoishi na virusi vya Ukimwi ambao hapo mwanzo walikuwa wadhaifu na wagonjwa na sasa wana nguvu na afya, hadithi za watu waliopima mapema na kuanza matibabu kabla ya kuanza kuumwa, hadithi za watu wenye virusi vya Ukimwi waliopata Tiba ya kuokoa maisha ili kuwalinda wenza wao, hadithi za kina mama wajaa wazito walioathirika waliopata tiba ya kuwalinda watoto wao wasipate ambukizo.

Getting tested is like taking off a blindfold.  It doesn’t change where one stands; it doesn’t change whether one has HIV or not.  But getting tested opens one’s eyes and is the first step towards avoiding needless death and stopping the spread of HIV to others.

Kupima ukimwi ni sawa na kujiondoa kitambaa kinachokuziba macho usione, ni kujiondolea upofu. Haibadilishi hali ya mtu. Haibadilishi kama una VVU au huna. Kupima kunafungua macho ya mtu na ni hatua ya kwanza ya kujikinga na kifo kisicho cha lazima na kuacha kueneza VVU kwa wengine.

Ubalozi wa Marekani  Dar es Salaam TANZANIA

30 Mei 2018

TAARIFA KWA VYOMBO VYA HABARI

Marekani na Tanzania waadhimisha miaka 15 ya ushirikiano katika kupambana na VVU/UKIMWI

 KAMPENI YA #PEPFAR15

Dar es Salaam, TANZANIA. Jumatano, tarehe 30 Mei, Kaimu Balozi wa Marekani nchini Tanzania Inmi K. Patterson na Waziri Mkuu wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania Mhesimiwa Kassim Majaliwa walizindua rasmi kampeni ya maadhimisho ya miaka 15 ya ubia kati ya Marekani na Tanzania katika kupambana na janga la VVU/UKIMWI chini ya Mpango wa Rais wa Marekani wa Kupambana na UKIMWI (PEPFAR).  Katika hafla iliyofanyika katika Ukumbi wa Mikutano wa Kimataifa wa Julius Nyerere Kaimu Balozi alitangaza pia kuwa hivi karibuni PEPFAR imevuka lengo muhimu katika utoaji huduma hapa nchini ambapo hivi sasa inatoa matibabu yanayookoa maisha kwa zaidi ya Watanzania milioni moja wanaoishi na VVU. Toka kuzinduliwa kwa PEPFAR na Rais George W. Bush hapo mwaka 2003, Serikali ya Marekani imewekeza zaidi ya Dola za Kimarekani bilioni 4.5 (takriban Shilingi trillion 10.26) katika kudhibiti maambukizi ya VVU/UKIMWI nchini Tanzania. 

Kampeni mpya ya #PEPFAR15 itaendelea kwa mwaka wote wa 2018 ili kuadhimisha mafanikio yaliyofikiwa na nchi zetu mbili katika mapambano dhidi ya VVU na kuendelea kuchukua hatua stahili za kudhibiti kuenea kwa VVU nchini Tanzania.  Ili kudhibiti janga hili, ni muhimu sana kwa Watanzania wote wanaoishi na VVU kupima na kujua hali za afya zao na kisha kuanza matibabu yatakayookoa maisha yao.  Katika kufikia azma hiyo, kampeni ya #PEPFAR15 inalenga kupunguza unyanyapaa, kuongeza upatikanaji na matumizi ya huduma zitolewazo za kukabiliana na VVU. Kila mtu atakayepimwa na kugundulika kuwa na maambukizi ya VVU ataanzishiwa matibabu mara moja. Watu wengi walio katika matibabu haya huwa na kiasi kidogo sana cha virusi hivi kiasi kwamba ni vigumu kwao kuwaambukiza wengine, ikiwemo wenza na watoto wao.

“Wakati wa kampeni hii, tutafanya kazi nanyi nyote, pamoja na watu wanaoishi na VVU nchini kote Tanzania ili kusimulia hadithi na habari nzuri (positive stories): habari za watu wanaoishi na VVU ambao wakati mmoja walikuwa dhaifu na wagonjwa lakini sasa wakiwa wenye nguvu na afya, habari za watu waliopima mapema na kuanza matibabu hata kabla hawajaanza kuumwa, habari za watu wanaoishi na VVU walioanza matibabu ya kuokoa maisha ili pia kuwalinda wenza wao na habari za akina mama wanaoishi na VVU wanaopata matibabu ili kuwalinda watoto wao,” alisema Kaimu Balozi Inmi Patterson.

Kwa taarifa zaidi kuhusu PEPFAR nchini Tanzania, tafadhali tembelea tovuti ya Ubalozi wa Marekani: https://tz.usembassy.gov/our-relationship/pepfar/.

Kwa taarifa zaidi, tafadhali wasiliana na Ofisi ya Habari ya Ubalozi wa Marekani Dar es Salaam kwa simu namba: +255 22 229-4000 au kwa barua pepe:  DPO@state.gov.

Taarifa kuhusu Mpango wa Rais wa Marekani wa Kukabiliana na UKIMWI (PEPFAR) nchini Tanzania

Muhtasari: PEPFAR ni mpango maalumu wa Serikali ya Marekani wa kusaidia kuokoa maisha ya watu wanaoishi na VVU/UKIMWI duniani kote.  Mpango huu wa kihistoria ni mkubwa zaidi ya mpango wowote uliowahi kuendeshwa na nchi yoyote duniani katika kukabili ugonjwa mmoja kimataifa.  Mpango wa PEPFAR huongozwa na kuendeshwa na majukumu ya pamoja kati ya nchi wafadhili na nchi wabia na wadau wengine katika kuokoa maisha.  

Kupitia PEPFAR, Marekani imesaidia dunia kuwa salama zaidi kwa kupunguza vitisho vya magonjwa ya kuambukiza.  Awali mpango huu ulibuniwa ili kutoa huduma za kuokoa maisha katika nchi zilizokuwa na kiwango kikubwa cha maambukizi ya VVU/UKIMWI, hata hivyo hivi sasa PEPFAR inalenga kudhibiti kuenea kwa VVU/UKIMWI duniani kote.  Mpango huu unajumuisha miradi ya Serikali ya Marekani inayolenga afya, maendeleo, usalama na diplomasia ukiwa na uwezo mkubwa wa kufikia malengo na matokeo yaliyo wazi, yanayopimika na yanayobadilisha maisha.

Taarifa na takwimu muhimu kuhusu matokeo ya mpango huu:

•           Katika mwaka wa fedha 2017 pekee, PEPFAR iliwezesha upimaji wa VVU kwa Watanzania milioni 9.

•           PEPFAR iliwezesha Watanzania 950,000 kupata matibabu ya kufubaza VVU (antiretroviral treatment); Lengo : Kuwawezesha Watanzania milioni 1 kupata matibabu hayo ifikapo mwishoni mwa mwaka 2018

•           Katika mwaka wa fedha 2017, PEPFAR ilitoa matibabu ya kuokoa maisha kwa akina mama wajawazito wapatao 56,000 ili kuzuia maambukizi ya VVU kutoka kwa mama kwenda kwa mtoto.

Miaka 15 toka kuanzishwa kwa PEPFAR hapo mwaka 2003:

•           Vifo vitokanavyo na UKIMWI vimepungua kwa asilimia 70, kutoka vifo 110,000 mwaka 2003 hadi 33,000 mwaka 2016

•           Kiwango cha maambukizi mapya kwa mwaka kimeshuka kwa zaidi ya nusu, kutoka maambukizi mapya 100,000 mwaka 2003 hadi 55,000 mwaka 2016

•           Programu za kudhibiti VVU nchini Tanzania zimezuia maambukizi mapya milioni 1.1 na vifo 690,000

Mchango wa PEPFAR wa miaka 15 kwa Watanzania unaakisi uhusiano wetu imara na wa muda mrefu na Watu wa Tanzania:

•           Kupitia PEPFAR, Serikali ya Marekani imetumia takriban Shilingi bilioni 9 (Dola za Kimarekani bilioni 4)

•           Fedha zilizotengwa kwa ajili yam waka wa fedha 2018 ni zaidi ya Shilingi trilioni 1 (Dola za Kimarekani milioni 512)

•           Hivi sasa PEPFAR inatoa asilimia 80.0 ya fedha zote zinazogharamia programu za kukabiliana na VVU nchini Tanzania.

·                     PEPFAR inatoa asilimia 68.0 ya fedha za kugharimia ARVs na asilimia 81.3 vipimo vya kupimia VVU ( rapid test kits.)

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