2008 Press Releases

Zuzimpilo reaches 2 600 HIV/Aids patients  with a new model of subsidised care
November 25, 2008.   Zuzimpilo Medical Centre which opened in November 2006 has attracted 2600 HIV/Aids patients that are paying towards a new model of partly subsidised healthcare. Zuzimpilo is an initiative of the Perinatal HIV Research Unit and is funded by USAID as a response to the increasing numbers of HIV/Aids patients who pose a major challenge to the roll-out of treatment, especially via the public health sector.

5th Annual Conference of the Regional Electricity Regulators Association of Southern Africa, Arusha, Tanzania, 12-13 November 2008
November 12, 2008.  The Conference was officially opened by the Honourable Prime Minister of the United Republic of Tanzania, Mizenga K. P. Pinda. The Honourable Prime Minister stated that the Conference was being held at a time of great global demand as well as serious supply shortage of electricity. He pointed out that regional cooperation, integration and pooling in the energy sectorwas crucial to harnessing the vast energy potential in Sub-Sahara Africa.

Trafficking of Persons in South Africa: Not Just a Cross-Border Problem
October 31, 2008. IOM and USAID this week released a new six-month study, entitled “No Experience Necessary: The Internal Trafficking of Persons in South Africa.” This qualitative study is the first survey research on the trafficking of children, women and men for labor and sexual exploitation within South Africa.

HIV Testing Week:  Warning Against the HIV/AIDS Virus
October 22, 2008. A call to arms rang out to today as Johnny Clegg, world renown South African musician, urged South Africans to choose life by getting tested during HIV Testing Week launching on the 3rd of November. Two organisations, Right to Care and Society for Family Health (SFH) through their social marketing franchise, New Start, are organizing an HIV Counselling and Testing week in the Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga and Northern Cape provinces.

Banking on the Future: Lending to African Small and Medium Size Enterprises (Media Advisory)
October 16, 2008. USAID, with support from Financial Services Volunteer Corps (FSVC), Microsoft and Deutsche Bank, is hosting a conference in Johannesburg, South Africa, on improving access to finance for small businesses. This two-day event, entitled, “Banking on the Future: Lending to African Small
and Medium Size Enterprises,” will feature senior-level international experts, African entrepreneurs, leading African bankers, and financial innovators to discuss the current state of small and mediumsized enterprises (SMEs) and SME lending in Africa.

Children with Life-Threatening Illnesses Happy with Hospice Care
October 13, 2008. Supported by USAID with funding from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and other groups, Soweto Hospice has engineered one of South Africa’s first children’s units to provide specialty care and reduce suffering endured by youngsters with life-threatening illnesses, including AIDS and cancer. 

Minister of Education Honors the Ithuba Writing Project Authors
August 8, 2008. The Minister of Education, Naledi Pandor, will celebrate and honour 140 educators who have authored new learning materials in home languages to advance literacy for learners in grades 4-6 through the South African-U.S partnership, the “Ithuba Writing Project”.

HOPE worldwide Vendor Model Project, Khayelitsha, Cape Town
May 19, 2008.  On Monday 19 May 2006, the US Ambassador, Mr Eric Bost congratulated the first class of the HOPE worldwide Vendor Model Project in starting their own businesses. Consul General Helen La Lime praised the children for their efforts as she and the Ambassador met the Vendors at their trollies. One of the Vendors, Nwabisa Msebe, 17 commented “This project has shown me the challenges of business. I’ve seen so many things and learned so much, so I will be prepared one day to start a business of my own.”

Creative New Animated Commercials Aim to Prevent AIDS
May 14, 2008.  A new project is set to change that dilemma by delivering fact-based messages in an innovative, engaging and effective way.  Scrutinize is an animated series created by a public private partnership between USAID and Johns Hopkins Health Education in South Africa (JHHESA) teaming up with iconic jeans label, Levi’s®, and series creators Matchboxology, with funding from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).  The result is a new approach to HIV aimed at reducing the number of new infections.

African Apparel Industry Suppliers and Buyers to Meet in Johannesburg
May 8, 2008.  The event is supported and organized by the USAID-funded Global Competitiveness Hubs (the Trade Hubs) in East/Central, Southern and West Africa. As many as 60 companies are expected to attend, representing a crosssection of the apparel industry doing business in Africa, including buyers from the United States and Europe, sourcing houses, South African retailers and African producers of textiles (yarn, fabrics, trims) and apparel. The B2B event represents a cost-effective way to foster trade linkages in the sector and source textiles, apparel and trim products from producers throughout Africa.

Creating Opportunities for Commercial Success, USAID Launches South African Business Linkages Project Phase II
March 11, 2008.  USAID and South Africa’s Department of Trade and Industry (dti) have launched the first private-public-partnership of its kind.  South African and U.S. corporate membership organizations have combined forces with a development agency/donor (USAID) and the South African Government (dti) to facilitate sustainable business linkages between corporate South Africa and black small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

USAID Apparel Exhibit Puts Africa on the U.S. Trade Map
March 4, 2008.  The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has won the best exhibit award at one of the apparel industry’s largest trade shows. Fifteen companies receiving aid from USAID’s three trade hubs in Africa showcased garments with unique fabrics, patterns and colors at the Feb. 12-15 event in Las Vegas known as MAGIC Marketplace.

Free HIV and Health Services for Soweto Youth at New Adolescent Centre
February 14, 2008.   Teenagers can now access free HIV and health services at Soweto’s Kganya Motsha Adolescent Centre opened today by the Perinatal HIV Research Unit (PHRU), associated with the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital and sponsors, USAID and PEPFAR (U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief).  The Centre offers medical and health services for youth between the ages of 14 and 19 years old.  Appointments aren’t necessary, confidentiality is guaranteed and the professional, friendly staff of six will give medical treatment, counseling and care resources tailored to meet adolescent needs.

USAID and Swaziland Banks Support Small Business Opportunities
January 23, 2008.  The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in partnership with TechnoServe, NedBank Swaziland and Standard Bank, has announced a $25 million loan guaranteefacility to support small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Swaziland over the next seven years.

Men As Partners Launch Press Announcement
January 16, 2008.  EngenderHealthjMen as Partners is disseminating a new educational tool that focuses on"redefining masculinity" in the era of gender-based violence, HIV, and AIDS. In this ten-minute DVD, first in the series, Men: Teliing it Like It is...., EngenderHeaith/Men as Partners is highlighting three characters who take the audience through theirexperiences with HIV and being a man in a democratic South Africa.   Poster