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.
MACHAME FLAG-OFF
AGAINST HIV/AIDS
Moshi: 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!
About Geita Gold Mine: Geita Gold Mine, a wholly owned
subsidiary of the AngloGold Ashanti Group, is the largest producer of gold in
AngloGold Ashanti. The mine is located in Geita Town in northwestern Tanzania.
Geita Gold Mine employs about 3,500 people, 96% are Tanzanian citizens. For
more information visit: www.anglogoldashanti.com
and www.geitakilichallenge.com
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Media Distribution by Abel
& Fernandes
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