Dar es Salaam, Tanzania—On International Earth Day, Jhpiego President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Leslie Mancuso led the Jhpiego staff in Tanzania in planting trees at Charambe Secondary School in Temeke District. This was part of a day of service in the global health non-profit’s worldwide 40th anniversary celebrations.
Dr. Mancuso was accompanied by Dr. Alain Damiba, Jhpiego’s Senior Vice President for Technical Leadership and Global Programs, Jhpiego Tanzania Country Director Maryjane Lacoste and Temeke District Forestry Officials. Jhpiego, an affiliate of Johns Hopkins University, has been working across the globe for four decades to prevent the needless deaths of women and their families.
“Jhpiego is known for its low-cost innovations that are saving lives,” said Dr. Mancuso. “Our commitment is not just to the health of women and families of Tanzania, but also to healthy lives—making sure this country stays with its beautiful resources so that the younger generation, this generation of students here, can see these trees growing over many years of their lives. We are here today on International Earth Day, and tomorrow we will be celebrating our 40th anniversary with all of our Tanzanian partners,” she added.
Charambe Secondary School Headmaster Vitus Mdemu thanked Jhpiego for its community service and attention to the school.
“The trees you planted today will go a long way to improve the environment of this school and contribute to halting the erosion that we see, so that our children can have a safer place to study,” said Mr. Mdemu.
The tree planting event is part of Jhpiego’s worldwide, 40th anniversary celebrations to mark four decades of lifesaving work, preventing the needless deaths of women and their families, and in Tanzania, Jhpiego’s strong, 14-year partnership with the government to improve the health of Tanzanians.
Tanzania celebrations started last week in Morogoro and Iringa municipalities, where Jhpiego organized demonstrations that gave the public an opportunity to see and experience Jhpiego’s low-cost, lifesaving interventions. Developing low-cost innovations to address critical health challenges is the hallmark of Jhpiego’s work to help every country provide quality care to all mothers and families.
“On behalf of Temeke District Commissioner Honorable Sophia Mjema, I thank Jhpiego for coming out to volunteer your work time to do community work in our district. Today you have demonstrated to us how much you care not only about the health of women and children of Tanzania, but to mother earth as well. The environment is where we all live, and we must do everything to protect it,” said Temeke District Forestry Officer Said Pongwa.
Jhpiego Tanzania’s office in Dar es Salaam will host its hallmark event on April, 23, 2013, with the First Lady of the United Republic of Tanzania, Her Excellence Mama Salma Kikwete, as the guest of honor. Leaders from the private and public sectors, health care and educational institutions, and partner and donor organizations will come together to celebrate Jhpiego’s impact over the past 40 years and its contributions toward a brighter future. The event will feature demonstrations of Jhpiego programs in Tanzania that showcase the strong partnership with the government and others in improving health outcomes for the people of Tanzania.
For more information, contact: Dr. Charles Wanga, Jhpiego Tanzania Publications and Communication Officer, Mobile: +255 784 337 232, Email: charles.wanga@jhpiego.org
