 |
| Kili Challenge Ambassador from South Africa's Rugby team Mr. Krynauw Otto (in blue) joined by other climbers at the Flag Off Machame Gate in Moshi for the Kilimanjaro Challenge which aims to raise funds to fight against HIV/AIDS in Tanzania sponsored by Geita Gold Mine (GGM) to raise funds to fight against HIV/AIDS in Tanzania. -------------------------------------------- |
Moshi: Geita
Gold Mine (GGM) in partnership with Tanzania Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS) officiated
the 14th year of Kilimanjaro Challenge Flag-Off at Machame Gate, in
Moshi. The Kili Challenge Flag-Off ceremony was officiated by Hon. Severine Kahitwa the Regional
Administrative Secretary (RAS) of Kilimanjaro.
This year marks the 14th historic climb for this noble cause with
more than 500 individuals from all across the world participating in
Kilimanjaro Challenge and its impact is tangibly seen amongst our communities. The
Kilimanjaro Challenge is an annual activity that aims to raise funds from
different partners through sponsorship of climbers to Mount Kilimanjaro and to
distribute the funds to relevant charities fighting HIV/AIDS in Tanzania.
During his flag-off speech at Machame in Moshi, the Hon. Severine
Kahitwa said, “This year’s climb began in Dar es Salaam on 22nd May
this year where former President Benjamin Mkapa, officially launched the
beginning of this great journey of which today we are witnessing. The biggest
message we take from this climb today is determination, zeal and hope. These
three can take us to a higher elevation in this fight. With the zeal, hope and
determination you have shown us that Tanzania without HIV/AIDS is possible. The
government would like to applaud this initiative by Geita Gold Mine (GGM) and
Tanzania Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS) as the Kili HIV/AIDS Challenge has
contributed towards raising awareness on the HIV/AIDS pandemic and is
supporting the Tanzanian government’s national initiatives towards zero new
infections, zero stigma incidences and zero mother to child infections so that
as a country we meet the Millennium Development Goals.
On behalf of the Executive Director of TACAIDS, Dr. Jerome Kamwela
said, “What our climbers will achieve in the next 7 days will be a monumental
task in our national struggle to tame the deadly scourge. It is this kind of
involvement to our society, youth in particular, and realization that HIV/AIDS
can be mitigated that will take our country to an ultimate success of seeing
Tanzania free of the HIV/AIDS Challenge. It can be done if each and every one
of us plays our part. Approximately 1.6 million people in Tanzania are living
with HIV/AIDS and about 75,000 new infections every year. This pandemic is
mostly affecting the youth of Tanzania and the disease has orphaned 1.3 million
children.
We need to change this therefore TACAIDs in collaboration with Geita Gold
Mine (GGM) and other various stakeholders through Kilimanjaro Challenge; we
will continue to provide financial support in order to fight against this
pandemic.” he continued to say, “We hope
to build a national team spirit in the fight against this menace and I urge
other stakeholders from local and international investors to come forward, join
us and contribute to the Kilimanjaro Challenge fund so that we can meet our
dream of having a zero free generation from HIV/AIDS.”
AngloGold Ashanti Sustainability Vice President Mr. Simon Shayo
said “More than 600 people from different parts of the world have participated to
climb Mt. Kilimanjaro for the Kilimanjaro Challenge initiative which has raised
in excess of US$500,000 per annum.
For the 2015 we hope to raise TZS 1.5
Billion and we are happy to announce that we will reach this amount as we have
already received pledges of about TZS 1.2Billion so far. Speaking in regard to
the flag-off ceremony he said “GGM is proud to be part of this initiative where
various companies which are working locally join forces and participate in this
noble cause. GGM leads this initiative by establishing relationships and mobilizing
key likeminded partners to raise funds, sponsor individual climbers, or donate
through an auction for this cause. Currently in its 14th year, the
difference in life changing in the communities is enormous and we are looking
forward for an HIV/AIDS zero Tanzania in the near future.”
“For our heroic determined climbers we say bravo to you all! We
highly commend you for deciding to undertake this challenge for a good cause and
for fulfilling your dreams. You are set out to conquer the highest mountain in
Africa, Mt. Kilimanjaro, not for fun but as a way demonstrate your solidarity
with the rest of Tanzania and the World in responding to the challenge of HIV/AIDS,
and in particular your devotion sends a message of care and love for those
affected in one way of another by HIV/AIDS as well as reaffirming our duty and
commitment to fight HIV/AIDS in Tanzania. In reality HIV/AIDS affect us all; it
affects humanity in its entirety.” He continued to say, “I would like to urge
anyone who would like to join us to visit www.geitakilichallenge.com and see how they can be
part of this great initiative.”
Geita Gold Mine and TACAIDS using the umbrella of Kilimanjaro
Challenge is playing a pioneering role in the awareness on the HIV/AIDS pandemic
and look forward for the day when Tanzania will be declared Zero HIV/AIDS infection
as it is reported that Tanzania’s prevalence rate has gone down from over 13%
in 2000 to 7.8% by 2007 and as low as 5.1% today. Let us all rise up to join
the fight to get to Zero HIV/AIDS: Zero New Infections, Zero Stigma and Zero
AIDS related deaths!
About Geita Gold Mine:
Geita Gold Mine, a
wholly owned subsidiary of the AngloGold Ashanti Group, is the largest producer
of gold in AngloGold Ashanti. The mine is located in Geita Town in northwestern
Tanzania. Geita Gold Mine employs about 3,500 people, 96% are Tanzanian
citizens. For more information visit: www.anglogoldashanti.com
and www.geitakilichallenge.com
No comments:
Post a Comment