In early June, a delegation of the American Embassy and the Henry M. Jackson Foundation Medical Research International (HJFMRI) in Tanzania, led by Mark Breda, Country Director of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) and Sally Chalamila, Executive Director of HJFMRI in Tanzania, visited key project implementation sites in Mbeya and Songwe region and met with beneficiaries and regional officials. As part of a comprehensive HIV prevention, care, and treatment program funded by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), they visited several peer-driven HIV youth initiatives and DREAMS (Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, and Safe) mentorship program sites. The programs address the rising HIV incidence among adolescents and youth, which has increased alarmingly in recent years.

Peer-Driven HIV Interventions for Youth: In Mkwajuni, Songwe region, Mark Breda and Sally Chalamila visited a youth engagement point and met Fredrick Mwashimanga, popularly known as Manyota. Manyota, a committed volunteer with the HJFMRI Southern Highland Program.  Mr. Mwashimanga utilizes his passion for music to educate his peers on the benefits of HIV testing and condom use, while distributing HIV self-tests. His creative approach targets adolescents and young adults, including motorcycle drivers and young individuals aged 15-24. By leveraging peer-to-peer outreach, the program ensures that interventions are responsive to the unique differences and needs of young people.

Empowering Adolescent Girls and Young Women: In Nswiswi village, Mbeya region, the delegation visited a DREAMS group where beneficiaries receive education on HIV, reproductive health, gender-based violence, financial capability, and economic empowerment. The DREAMS program aims to reduce HIV rates among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) aged 15-24, who are at a high risk due for HIV infection.  Janeth Mwakitege, a DREAMS mentor, shared her journey of empowerment after being diagnosed with HIV. With her viral load now suppressed, Janeth supports AGYW in forming groups and accessing HIV services. Funded by PEPFAR through WRAIR, the DREAMS initiative operates in three districts of Mbeya and Tunduma in Songwe, providing a safe space for AGYW to enhance their skills and resilience.

Enhancing Laboratory Services in Southern Highlands In a significant boost to healthcare infrastructure, laboratory items worth Tsh 132,972,500 were handed over to strengthen laboratory services in the southern highland regions.

The handover, presided over by Rungwe District Commissioner Hon. Jafary Haniu, saw the distribution of equipment including mini refrigerators, cooler boxes, fridge guards, and power stabilizers to regional medical officers from Mbeya, Songwe, Rukwa, and Katavi. These items, provided by HJFMRI with PEPFAR funding through WRAIR, aim to improve the efficiency and quality of sample management while reducing operational costs associated with sample transportation. Emphasizing the importance of proper management and utilization, Hon. Haniu urged regional medical officers to ensure these donations are used effectively to strengthen laboratory services.

These visits and initiatives underscore the critical efforts being made to combat HIV in Tanzania. From empowering youth and AGYW through peer-driven and DREAMS programs to enhancing laboratory services; these activities highlight a comprehensive approach to HIV prevention, care, and treatment. These efforts are vital in ensuring long and healthy lives for the communities in Mbeya, Songwe, Rukwa, and Katavi regions.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of U.S. Embassy in Tanzania.

Ethiopian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nebiyu Tedla had a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Nasser Kanaani, who is also the president of Iran’s Foreign Ministry’s Center for Public Diplomacy, on Friday in Moscow and exchanged views on bilateral cooperation and issues of mutual interest.

During the meeting, held on the sidelines of a meeting of the BRICS member states’ spokespersons, Tedla said cooperation should be bolstered to counter fake news and lies against countries like Iran, Russia, and Ethiopia.

Furthermore, he denounced Western countries for the instrumental use of human rights and international structures related to the field.

For his part, Kanaani underlined the cooperation between BRICS member states against hate-mongering and lies disseminated in the media aimed at distorting the image of the independent countries in the world.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson also stressed that the cooperation should be directed at confronting the selective use of human rights and terrorism by some Western countries as tools in order to fulfill their unlawful political objectives.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Islamic Republic of Iran.

On Wednesday, 10th July, 2024, His Excellency Kingsford Amoako participated in the launch of National Agriculture Development Plan 2024-2030 dubbed “Liberians Feed Yourselves Agenda” under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex, Congo Town.

The event carried the theme “Promoting food self-sufficiency and indigenous wealth creation through Agriculture value chain development.” This remarkable event was graced by His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, President of the Republic of Liberia, Dr. Alexander J. Nuetah, Minister of Agriculture, Senior Government Officials and the Diplomatic Corps among others. This sector development plan is in line with President’s “ARREST” Agenda which Agriculture is one of the priority areas of the Government.

The “Liberians Feed Yourselves Agenda” would focus on cultivation of various cash crops ranging from corn, cassava, rice, pepper, animal rearing among others for self-sufficiency and wealth creation. The Embassy of Ghana congratulates the Government of Liberia and its partners for achieving this major stride in revamping the agricultural sector.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Embassy of Ghana in Liberia.

On Thursday, 11th July, 2024, Ambassador Kingsford Amoako joined in the celebration of World Population Day and the Launch of the 2024 State of the World Population Report organized by the Government of Liberia and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex, Congo Town, Monrovia under the theme “Embracing the power of inclusive data towards a resilient and equitable future for all.”

In the keynote address by His Excellency Jeremiah Kpan Koung, Vice President of the Republic of Liberia conveyed his thanks and appreciation to Ghana, United States of America, Sweden and Ireland for their enormous technical and financial support during the 2022 Population and Housing Census organized by the Liberia. Vice President Koung further admonished all State institutions to analyse the UNFPA State of the World report to further inform their decisions going forward.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Embassy of Ghana in Liberia.