PEPFAR grants 16 NGOs
Published On September 26, 2015 » 2278 Views» By Administrator Times » Features
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AIDS LOGOON September 15, 2015, the United States (US) Embassy in Zambia provided about US$147,000 (K1.4 million) under the PEPFAR Small Grants programme to 16 local organisations, and during the presentation of the money in Lusaka,  Deputy Chief of Mission David Young said the following:
“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.  Muli bwanji. My name is David Young and I am the Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy in Lusaka.
I am proud to address all of you today – the recipients of the PEPFAR 2015 Small Grants programme.  You represent 16 organisations from across the country. We are here today because of the essential three-way partnership among the US government, the Government of the Republic of Zambia through the National AIDS Council, and civil society, represented by your organisations.
I want to especially acknowledge the support that the District AIDS Coordination Advisors have provided to the small grants programme application process, as they offered their expertise and provided computer resources to assist you. We truly value this collaboration.
The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, through the support of the American people, will award a total of over 1.4 million Kwacha or $147,000 through the PEPFAR small grants program to your organisations today. I congratulate you! You underwent a rigorous proposal process and are receiving funding from PEPFAR because we, the US government and the National AIDS Council, recognise your projects for being impactful and innovative.
Our application reviewers and site evaluators, who came from a variety of backgrounds within the US Embassy, were struck by the dedication, passion, and resourcefulness of your organisations.
Your work can be expressed in this timeless quote from Robert F Kennedy: “Each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation. Each time a man (or woman) stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he (or she) sends forth a tiny ripple of hope.”
The PEPFAR programme is pivoting in order to saturate the areas of highest need towards the United Nations 90-90-90 global targets goal. The goal is that by 2020:
– 90 per cent of all people living with HIV will know their HIV status;
– 90 per cent of all people with diagnosed HIV infection will receive sustained antiretroviral therapy; and
-90 per cent of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy will have viral suppression.
PEPFAR is working with the Government of Zambia to direct PEPFAR resources programmatically and geographically to reach the areas hardest hit by the epidemic and accelerate progress toward epidemic control.
PEPFAR’s small grants program focuses on two areas: providing opportunities for orphans and vulnerable children to grow and be able to make positive contributions to Zambia’s future, and HIV prevention. This program is a pillar of our overall HIV portfolio.  Our aim is to help you enhance and expand your programmes through these grants, and eventually be able to sustain them on your own. You are all helping to improve the lot of others, and in doing so, your communities as a whole.
Together, your organisations are addressing a broad range of community needs and reaching many groups of people affected by HIV, including:
– orphans and vulnerable children, by protecting them from harm and abuse, helping prevent them from contracting HIV, and providing key skills to help them to stay physically and emotionally healthy;
– children with disabilities, by extending education services into their homes towards the goals of mainstreaming into traditional schools and independent living;
– secondary school children, by developing sustainable ways to support their education beyond primary school when they may have otherwise ended their formal education;
-vulnerable youth, by sponsoring vocational training to shepherd them towards trades which will enable them to join the workforce and support their families;
– people living with HIV, including those with disabilities, by fostering supportive environments; and those in prisons by expanding HIV services where the needs are so great;
– your communities generally, by encouraging people to take personal responsibility for stopping the spread of HIV by knowing their status.
To put your work into a larger context – you are helping the Government of the Republic of Zambia and the US government to achieve its priorities to combat HIV and AIDS.
Through this partnership, we are already feeling a ripple of hope: today, more than 600,000 Zambians are accessing anti-retroviral therapy.
In 2004, only 3,500 Zambians had access to this life-saving treatment. We are preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV in every district in the country.
In 2014 more than 500,000 expectant mothers were counseled and tested for HIV. We are reducing the risk of contracting HIV by 60 percent for the more than 239,000 men who received voluntary medical male circumcision in 2014 alone. We have prevented many other transmissions by providing voluntary testing and counseling to 2.3 million people who now know their HIV status.
You are helping to improve the well-being of orphans and vulnerable children at a local level. Working closely with our partners, PEPFAR is supporting more than 700,000 orphans and vulnerable children in Zambia.
Each of your acts is writing the story of your generation and creating hope of achieving an AIDS-free generation in Zambia.
I am honored to launch the 2015 PEPFAR small grants award workshop. I look forward to hearing about your continued and enhanced success.  Thank you for the impact that you are making in your communities. Present during the ceremony were Dr Jabbin Mulwanda, National AIDS Council Director General Representatives from the 16 organisations selected to receive the PEPFAR Small Grants Awards, District and Provincial AIDS Coordination Advisors, and representatives from the US government.
Thanks to the US government for its continued support to Zambia in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Until next week, I pen off for now but for any comments on any health issues, you can write to knoxngoma@gmail.com or text/call +260955883143.

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