Minnay University Project

AIDS

It is thought three million of Tanzania's total population (12-15%) are infected with HIV but many do not have access to life-sustaining antiretroviral drugs. The Health Ministry plans to target essential workers like teachers who are dying at an alarming rate and to increase the number receiving the drugs to 40,000. But almost a quarter of a million are in dire need of drugs. The former Tanzania's president, Benjamin Mkapa has been reported as saying $1 billion a year is needed to combat AIDS effectively - this was equal to the total revenue collected by his Government: "We must take collective responsibility for saving ourselves from imminent extinction." April 2005 results from a survey of 12,000 people suggest that awareness campaigns are paying off. Results indicate that HIV infections are slowing down slightly (from 10 per cent in 2002 to 7 per cent in 2003/4). More infections are occurring in urban areas, it seems. More women (60% of new infections, say the UN) than men are becoming infected.

Our Involvement
MDF organizes rural animators that brings about the awareness and supports the victims and orphans that a left behind by home health care and supplies of basic needs. For the since 2005, MDF has been pulling together groups of individual volunteers that will regularly visit homes and bring basic supplies together with providing moral supports.
 

The Need
More volunteers are needed since the few we have can not reach all the families regularly as demand is increasing. More groups need to be formed, offered proper training and provide the relevant support. We need trainers who could be available to the small group leaders and conduct recruitment to more leaders in different localities. The pilot project is Shinyanga Tanzania has proven to be very efficient and effective and we are planning to expand it to more regions.

Financial Support is very crucial at this time, $50.00 is enough to bring necessary resources to one family for the whole month. Devastated families do not have means of income generation since the bread winners (either father or mother or both) are deceased, thus why HIV/AIDS can hardly be separated from Orphan Issues.

Means of transport to cover larger areas is penitent at this time as most of the volunteers have to walk on foot for many hours or use unreliable public transport. The Foundation is extending an invitation to  friends and partners to join in the campaign to raise $50,000 to get means of transport and supplies to reach more than 500 families.  We accept donations, gifts, securities, cash, and anything that will be available to make it possible. Please call now 1-800-803-9671 (USA and Canada) and for outside USA call 1-336-499-6532.

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