United States Vice President, Kamala Harris has said that she was proud to announce more than $1 billion in public- and private-sector commitments to support women empowerment on the African continent.
Harris disclosed this while she met with the Tanzanian President, Samia Suluhu Hassan on Thursday, saying women around the world must be able to fully participate in economic, political, and social life.
According to her, “Women must be able to participate equally, including in leadership roles. When you lift up the economic status of women, you lift up economic status of families, of communities, and all of society benefits.
“And yesterday I was proud to announce more than $1 billion in public- and private-sector commitments to support the empowerment of women on the continent”, Harris added.
On health, the Vice President commended Tanzanian government for its transparent response to the Marburg virus, saying Tanzanian continued coordination, information sharing with international partners has been critical to contain the spread of the virus.
“Our governments remain in close contact, and our work together builds on decades of collaboration on public health issues.
“Through USAID, we plan to provide another $1.3 million to support your response efforts. And we are providing personal protective equipment to help Tanzanian responders”, she announced.
Harris who also made it known that Export- Import Bank will sign an MOU with Tanzania, said it will facilitate up to $500 million in U.S. exports to Tanzania in areas of transportation, infrastructure, digital technology, and clean energy projects.
Harris also revealed that US is launching a new partnership on 5G technology and cybersecurity, adding that the innovation and ingenuity taking place on African continent will shape the future of the world and will benefit the world.
President Hassan who said Tanzania has made another historic milestone with two female leaders, American Vice President and ofcourse her the Tanzanian President, meeting at the State House in Dar es Salaam, in the country’s capital.
“And to put a shirt on top of all this, the meeting takes place during this very important month, Women’s History Month. Much. What an inspiration and a testimony to Tanzanian young girls”, Hassan added.
She appreciated US support in complimenting Tanzanians’ development in different sectors such as health, education, water, sanitation, agriculture, food security, infrastructure development, human rights democracy, and good governance.
“For instance, in health or health sector, HIV and TB are no longer life-threatening to our people. HIV/AIDS infection has greatest reduced from a prevalent of 7.2 percent in 2012 to 4.7 in ’16, ’17. But it has been reducing further by ‘21.
“The new TB infection have reduced from 306 people per thousand to 208 per thousand people, while pregnant women who are infected with HIV are now sure — are assured of giving birth and raising the child free from HIV infection”.
Hassan said further that through US support, malaria deaths, which were (inaudible), have now been reduced from 7.7 million in 2015 to 3.5 million in 2021. “So we have gone halfway, and I’m sure, with more efforts, we are going to reduce further.
“Our goal is toward having a malaria-free society. We count on PEPFAR program to achieve this goal. We’re ready to support interested investors who want to establish manufacturing plants in Tanzania for a manufacturing era in RVs and insecticide bed nets.
“We are very keen on such investors. And this is because we want to shorten the supply chain. If they’re producing in Tanzania, then supply could be very easy. We still enjoys several other interventions from the great people of United States of America,” she said.