Benjamin Mkapa HIV/AIDS Foundation Announces Commitment to Action as Part of the 2012 Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting

NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Founded by the former President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Excellency Benjamin William Mkapa, the Mkapa HIV/AIDS Foundation's 2012 Commitment to Action has been announced for the 2012 Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Annual Meeting. CGI's Commitments to Action presents bold new ways that CGI members can address global challenges--implemented through new methods of partnership and designed to maximize impact. Commitments can be small or large, local or global. No matter the size or scope, commitments help CGI members translate practical goals into meaningful and measurable results.

The Mkapa HIV/AIDS Foundation is committed to significantly strengthen and expand HIV/AIDS care and treatment, emergency obstetric care and prevention of mother to child HIV transmission services in rural areas of Tanzania. The investment --estimated at 10 million dollars-- shall support provision of fellowship to 180 health professionals, develop skills of 1500 health staff on HIV/AIDS and maternal/newborn healthcare, construct 30 operating theaters for quality service delivery and reach the underserved community with mobile outreach services.

The new investment will cover 15 rural districts and benefit an estimated 2.5 million citizens, among them being People Living with HIV/AIDS, pregnant mothers, newborns, youth and the community at large. The Mkapa Foundation has raised 2 million dollars locally to support these efforts and are calling on international corporations, foundations and philanthropic organizations for further investment and partnership in filling the gap of 8 million dollars.

The Benjamin William Mkapa HIV/AIDS Foundation (BMAF) is a Trust and non-profit making organization established in February, 2006 by Former President Mkapa and the Former President of the United States, William Jefferson Clinton, under the support of the Government of Royal Kingdom of Norway, with the aim of accelerating HIV and AIDS services through addressing the shortage of skilled health professionals in rural underserved settings.

About the Clinton Global Initiative
Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes global leaders to create and implement innovative solutions to the world's most pressing challenges. CGI Annual Meetings have brought together more than 150 heads of state, 20 Nobel Prize laureates, and hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations and NGOs, major philanthropists, and members of the media. To date CGI members have made more than 2,100 commitments, which have already improved the lives of 400 million people in more than 180 countries. When fully funded and implemented, these commitments will be valued at $69.2 billion.

CGI also convenes CGI America, a meeting focused on collaborative solutions to economic recovery in the United States, and CGI University (CGI U), which brings together undergraduate and graduate students to address pressing challenges in their community or around the world. For more information, visit clintonglobalinitiative.org and follow us on Twitter @ClintonGlobal and Facebook at facebook.com/clintonglobalinitiative.

Contact:
Sizarina Hamisi
[email protected]
[email protected]
telephone +255 22 2600590
cell phone: +255 784 788276
www.mkapahivfoundation.org

SOURCE Benjamin William Mkapa HIV/AIDS Foundation