Wasanii walipopewa somo wakati wa maadhimisho ya Siku ya Ukimwi

Naibu Waziri wa Maendeleo ya Jamii, Jinsia na Watoto, Ummy Mwalimu, akizungumza na wasanii mbalimbali wa Bongo Movie na Bongo Flava wakati alipokuwa akiifungua semina yao hiyo, jijini Dar es Salaam jana.

Baadhi ya wasanii mbalimbali wakiwa katika semina hiyo, wakimsikiliza Naibu Waziri wa Maendeleo ya Jamii, Jinsia na Watoto, Ummy Mwalimu, wakati alipokuwa akiifungua semina yao hiyo, jijini Dar es Salaam jana. P 3. Mtaalamu wa masuala ya ukimwi, Mrina Cyanus, akiwasilisha mada ya Ukimwi na Vijana wakati wa semina hiyo.

========== ========== ===========

The Benjamin William Mkapa HIV/AIDS Foundation’s (BMAF) experience in managing HIV/AIDS projects extends from various initiatives it has implemented in improving health services in underserved areas of Tanzania through strengthening health workforce situation as well as reaching the community through outreach health services. The Foundation has reached 83% of the Tanzania regions and the beneficiaries are mainly district health managers and the community ranging from men, women and youth including People Living with HIV (PLHIV).

In its continuous efforts to contribute to the Government efforts, BMAF commemorated the globally-celebrated World AIDS day with the support from its partners Vodacom Foundation and Montage. 

This year’s World AIDS Day theme is ‘Towards Tanzania without new HIV infection, Stigma and discrimination and AIDS related deaths.’ The theme has been derived from the global move towards the three Zeros: Zero new HIV infection, Zero stigma and discrimination and Zero AIDs related deaths. 

Considering that 47% of Tanzanian population is below the age of 15, reaching youth remains one of the major strategy in achieving the three zeros. The use of popular art form, such as music has been advocated as one of the ways to reach youth. This approach has proven to be effective and sustainable, by working in ways that traditional methods of outreach has its limitations. Access to reading materials or educational lectures and access to temporary health clinics, is severely limited for non-urban communities. Music plays a pivotal role in socialization of adolescents: an average adolescent may listen to approximately three or more hours of music daily.

BMAF hosted a lunch workshop that involved around 60 bongo flava and bongo movie artists to raise awareness on HIV AIDS among the local artists as means of commemorating the 2013 World AIDS day.

The workshop refreshed and updated the musicians and movie artists of the HIV status in our country, the meaning of three zeros and preventive measures to be advocated. The workshop was also a platform to sensitize the artists to become ambassadors and Champions for the national AIDS response and youth reproductive health matters.

It is envisaged that the artists will become an important agent of change advocating for HIV preventive measures such as Circumcision, use of condoms and other youth reproductive health matters. 

The workshop was officially opened and enjoyed the participation of Hon. Ummy Mwalimu, the Deputy Minister for Community Development, Gender and Children. Likewise present in the event was the CEO of the Mkapa Foundation, Dr. Ellen Mkondya Senkoro, who welcomed all participants to the event.