A Nom-Governmental Organization focused on delivering solutions for women and girls’ health, Montage has raised about 140m/- in support of the government’s initiatives for realization of the 2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) target on health.

Tanzania’s First Lady Mama Salma Kikwete

Speaking during the a charity ball in Dar es Salaam on Friday evening, the First Lady, Mama Salma Kikwete, who was the guest of honour, said every member of the public should play a role to achieve the fourth goal of the MDGs on zero rate of maternal mortality.

Mama Kikwete hailed Montage’s initiatives to address challenges facing women and girls’ health and urged other Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to emulate it. Montage Managing Director, Ms Teddy Mapunda, said the charity was geared towards making contribution for better health, searching for breakthrough strategies in achieving the MDGs.

“The women in our society are often given the roles to care for everything. They are the ones who cope with whatever life throws at them. We are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Sometimes it is our children who are sick, our husbands neglecting our families,” she said.

She promised the First Lady to continue supporting towards various social programmes and activities carried out by Wanawake na Maendeleo (Women and Development) organization whose chairperson is Mama Kikwete.

Ms Mapunda pointed out that the collected money would be channeled through programmes on health to address different diseases including breast cancer and fistula.

The event was attended by different dignitaries including wives of Vice President Mama Zakia and Mama Aisha Bilal, the Central Bank of Tanzania (BoT) Governor, Prof Benno Ndulu and former US Ambassador to Tanzania, Rev Charles Stith.

By LUDOVICK KAZOKA, Tanzania Daily News