
Vice
President Geita Gold Mine (GGM), Simon Shayo, addressing the media (not
in picture) at the Flag Off Machame Gate in Moshi, Tanzania for the 14th
year of Kilimanjaro Challenge which aims to raise funds to fight
against HIV/AIDS in Tanzania.

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.

Member
of the Board of Geita Gold Mine, Ambassador Richard Mariki (first
right) joined by Vice President Geita Gold Mine (GGM), Simon Shayo
(second right) together leading a team of 39 climbers, participating in
the Kili Challenge which aims to raise funds to fight against HIV/AIDS
in Tanzania.
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!
No comments:
Post a Comment