16 May 2013

African Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Partnerships (ACHAP) and Merck Sharpe and Dohme (MSD) have donated a 26 seater mini bus to House of Hope. In addition, the two organisations facilitated insurance of the P339 650 vehicle.

Speaking during the handing over ceremony in Palapye on Wednesday, ACHAP’s CEO, Dr Jerome Mafeni said the mini bus would serve the needs of the children under the care of House of Hope. The latter is a non-profit making organisation established in 1999 to provide support to orphans and vulnerable children in Palapye.

“We need to also recognise the importance of putting the psycho-social needs of the children first and ensure the provision of a safe and healthy environment for them, even as we provide for their education and physical needs, as this will contribute towards assuring their future for becoming the responsible adults of tomorrow,” he said.

Dr Mafeni further said ACHAP was proud to be part of the significant achievements the country has made in fighting the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The country, he said, had established an effective ARV treatment programme and a highly successful PMTCT programme, adding “these are among some of the achievements that have provided examples to the rest of developing world.”

The impact of these programmes, he said, could be seen in the reduction of mother to child HIV transmission and reduction in mortality among people living with HIV/AIDS.

For his part MSD official, Mr Barulaganye Sebape appealed to members of the public to assist the organisation with fuelling and servicing the vehicle.

Mr Sebape said the House of Hope alone would not afford to do that. He said the vehicle would help ferry the children to various destinations and will help the house to run its errands.

However, he cautioned that the vehicle should be used for the intended purpose and should not be abused. House of Hope board vice-chairman, Mr Maina Kgopo thanked ACHAP and MSD for the donation saying that the new vehicle came at the right time as the one that was used by organisation before was very old.

Mr Kgopo said the organisation was faced with many challenges which included amongst others shortage of toys, mattresses and chairs as such he appealed to the public to assist. ENDS