The HIV/Aids pandemic can be counted among the top five obstacles to the development and social welfare of the people of developing countries. I consider it a threat to the survival of Sub-Sahara African countries including Tanzania.

Awareness of the threat which this disease poses has risen in the past ten years. Governments have responded to the challenge by the establishment of institutions to lead the fight against it. They have generally initiated campaigns on three fronts – prevention, treatment and counselling.

In Tanzania the institutional framework is highlighted by the government constituted and led Tanzania Commission for Aids. It is conducting a spirited fight. But clearly the government alone cannot contain the spread, let alone conquer, this enemy. Quite rightly, it has recognized and encourages the role of NGOs, civil society and faith group initiatives.

As I prepared to leave the Office of the President in 2005, I decided to lend the weight of influence of my long public service record to the war against this pandemic. I joined ranks with President Bill Clinton. With this support and the funding by the Government of the Royal Kingdom of Norway, I set up the Benjamin William Mkapa HIV/AIDS Foundation. Its first Programme is the Mkapa Fellows, who by the end of this year will be number 99, posted to 33 rural and hard to reach districts. They go to join the frontline with calculated enhanced capacity, in terms of both knowledge and means, to be valorous and effective warriors. I sincerely thank the Clinton Foundation and the Norwegian Government for their generous and sustained support. I also thank the Tanzania Government which continues to render invaluable back-up cooperation.

This website is another weapon in the fight against HIV/Aids and another tool in empowering the Programme Fellows. It should serve as a platform to impart knowledge and innovation experience. Fellows nationally, and professionals internationally, have varied experiences according to their specific circumstances. I ask that they make use of the website to strengthen their arsenals against this pandemic.

I encourage those who access the site to revisit it time and again. They are certain to encounter new knowledge about infection, reticence to testing, medication, approaches to counseling, tried and proven methods of overcoming stigma. The cumulative effect should see distinct improvement in public health and economic growth, which constitute the surest foundation of sustainable development.
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