Chairperson of the Association of Diplomatic Spouses;
Diplomatic Spouses;
WAMA Board Members;
Invited Guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I warmly
welcome you all to the State House for our annual get-together. I thank you for
accepting my invitation and for coming. It is always honour to be in the
wonderful company of diplomatic spouses and I am happy to welcome those who are
new.
Invited Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
As it is
customary at such occasions we reflect on the past year and ponder about the
future you may recall during last year’s Sherry Party,
I had an
opportunity to share with you my vision which amongst other things it
included several activities ranging from increasing education opportunities to
the girl child. I also spoke about contributing to the reduction of Maternal
Mortality by improving Maternal and Child health as well as contributing to
Women’s Economic Empowerment and assisting Orphans and other vulnerable
children. I am pleased to inform you
that we have made significant strides towards realizing this vision through the
WAMA foundation. The WAMA Foundation continues to place women and development
high on its agenda. WAMA is grateful for the support and cooperation it
receives from partners and stakeholders, some of whom are present in this occasion.
We are
particularly impressed with the efforts of the government of United Republic of
Tanzania in giving deserved attention to maternal and child health and the
whole question of women’s rights and welfare in Tanzania.
We
recognize with admiration its participation in the World Commission on
Information and Accountability for Children’s and Women’s Health and the
African Leaders Initiative Against Malaria (ALMA). These efforts altogether
deserve a special mention and our support.
WAMA is looking forward to compliment government efforts
in addressing the same to the needy and underprivileged women and girls especially
those who have not yet been reached. We shall stay the course in our programs
on education, health and economic empowerment. So far they have helped lift
many people from the scourge of poverty and put a smile on the faces of many women
and children. I wish to share with you some few highlights of our previous year’s
achievements and the ongoing programs for year 2013;
Education
Ladies and Gentlemen
In education,
to date 247 girls who are orphans or come from poor families have been enrolled
in the WAMA Nakayama Secondary School.
This year ninety (90) new students will join the school therefore the
total number of girls will be 337. I am pleased that through the generous
support from our well-wishers this year we shall continue constructing 6 semi-detached
staff houses for 12 families, 2 classrooms for A-level and two
dormitories. On the other note, I am
glad to inform you that through the support from our partners, we will build
another school similar to the WAMA Nakayama Secondary school.
Health
Invited Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
In my last year’s sherry party address, I informed you
about our initiatives to address
the problems of maternal and infant mortality through advocacy campaign and
supply of maternal and child health service equipments to hospitals, health
centers and dispensaries countrywide
I am pleased to inform you that
last year WAMA in
co-operation with Project C.U.R.E of the United States of America and some your
Embassies, successfully mobilized equipment worth 3 Milion USD. This year we
will distribute the equipment to the designated health facilities.
We have continued with our efforts on the prevention
of adolescent early pregnancies especially for the young girls who are in
secondary schools. We have partnered with Engender Health Acquire on the establishment
of community clubs that are aimed at educating society regarding its
responsibility to protect children from early pregnancies and HIV/AIDS
infections. They also advocate on the need for parents to prioritize education
for their children.
We have continued with PMTCT program through a special
campaign named “Save the Unborn Child” in which we are partnering with Colombia
University’s ICAP Project,
Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) to
implement a major community advocacy program for the Prevention of Mother to
Child HIV infections.
In August last year we launched an advocacy tool for
women leaders known as RAPIDwomen Model for Tanzania. The tool shows how women centered
strategies focusing on Reproductive Health, Gender norms and Education, can
increase the quality of life for women, families and communities and promote overall
national development. The Model was developed by WAMA Foundation in
collaboration with Futures Group International and PACKARD Foundation.
WAMA Foundation also has been working closely with the
Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Gavi Alliance and other
partners, where in December last year I
officiated at the launch and introduction
two new vaccines to Tanzania. These are the Rotarix and PCV 13 which will protect
our children against Pneumonia and Diarrhea respectively.
This is a critical step forward toward achieving the
Millennium Development Goal 4 of reducing infant mortality. The two vaccines will start being provided to
children from this month. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all
partners including Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) for
giving me a special recognition award for being a role model on Maternal and
Child Health Issues.
Orphans and Venerable Children (OVC)
Invited Guests,
We are also collaborating with FHI Pamoja Tuwalee
project on mobilizing resources for the Most Vulnerable Children (MVC). In this
regard we have enabled the formation of the Advocacy Advisory Committee, and
this year, we will officially launch the campaign that will support the Most
Vulnerable Children (MVC).
Women Economic Empowerment
Invited Guests,
WAMA has continued to work on achieving its vision of
“Tanzanian Women being empowered in order to live a quality life” We have been supporting
the formation of women groups and provide entrepreneurial skills as well as
link women entrepreneurs groups with service providers and partners networks. The following has been achieved
last year under the Women Economic Empowerment Unit:
We initiated, facilitated and linked women
entrepreneurs groups with the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) service,
where women will be able to access health services. As a result, the National Health Insurance
Fund (NHIF) has introduced the individual/group scheme, which I officially
launched on December 20, 2012 in Dar es
Salaam. I am informed that, already a total of six hundred (600) women have
joined the group/ individual scheme of the National Health Insurance Fund.
WAMA has
trained 420 women on food processing in collaboration with SIDO Tanzania. Our
hope is that this year the members shall utilize the knowledge they aquired
through training to expand their funding base in order to engage themselves in
different economic activities. Furthermore, WAMA collaborated with ILO and MOWE in supporting
the fundraising which provided an opportunity for Women Entrepreneurs to participate
in exhibiting their products and services at Mnazi Mmoja ground in October last
year.
Conclusion
Invited Guests,
As we
celebrate the achievements that I have mentioned today and those that I have
not mentioned, I am very optimistic about the year ahead of us.
I wish to thank all of you for the support
that you have given to WAMA, the Government and people of Tanzania. I look
forward to your usual cooperation this year.
It is my sincere hope that this year we shall
continue to work together to support different initiatives to help the needy.
Once again I wish you, your countries
and organizations all the best in the year 2013. Let it be the year of hope,
prosperity and fulfillment.
ON THAT NOTE, I WISH YOU A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS 2013.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION.
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