U.S. pledges $99 million to Tanzania for malaria, HIV/AIDS efforts, farm loans

Sep 4 2008

Tanzania will receive $99 million in aid from the U.S. to enhance its efforts to address malaria and HIV/AIDS and provide loans to farmers, Tanzania's Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Bernard Membe said Tuesday, Reuters reports.

The U.S. pledged the funding during Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete's visit to Washington, D.C., last week.

Of the funding, $34 million will be allocated for malaria control programs, $45 million for HIV/AIDS efforts, and $20 million for farm loans, Membe said. According to the Tanzanian government, children younger than age five and pregnant women with malaria account for 55% of hospital admissions in the country. In addition, approximately two million people in Tanzania, which has a population of 40 million, are HIV-positive (Obulutsa, Reuters, 9/2).

VOA News recently reported on Tanzania's efforts to fight malaria, U.S. aid to the country and Kikwete's recent visit to the U.S. The segment includes comments from President Bush and Kikwete (Stearns, VOA News, 8/29).