Press Release from ADPP Mozambique

ADPP Mozambique and Johnson & Johnson to establish a TCE Area reaching out to 100,000 people in the Administrative Post of Machava, in the Province of Maputo.

On April 1, 2010 the expansion of ADPP Mozambique's TCE program in Maputo province, District of Matola was officially launched  The event was attended by more than 200 guests and inaugurated by the First Lady of Mozambique, Maria De Luz Guebuza along with Johnson & Johnson representative Arlete Calane.
TCE is an HIV/AIDS prevention program which mobilizes each individual in a geographic area to take action in the fight against HIV/AIDS.  TCE Field Officers trained as counselors, visit each house and speak with each individual and help them identify where they are at risk of contracting or spreading HIV.  The individual is assisted in making a plan to eliminate their risks through behavior change and take a action in the fight against HIV/AIDS.  An important aspect for behavior change is knowing ones HIV status.  TCE Field Officers will be testing people out in their fields in cooperation with the Mozambican Ministry of Health. Testing is a key issue in the question of behavior change, and through repeated visits the Field Officers support the individuals to go for testing, and treatment or to maintain their negative status depending on the test results.
First Lady, Maria De Luz Guebuza called upon everyone to get involved in the prevention of HIV adding, “this is why we have formed this 3-way partnership between our Office, ADPP Mozambique and Johnson & Johnson to establish a TCE Area reaching out to 100,000 people in the Administrative Post of Machava, in the Province of Maputo. We are contributing to the national effort of prevention and mitigation of the impact of HIV/AIDS because we know that only by joining forces can we reduce the suffering of the people of our country especially our children, the youth, the women and the elderly.”
Director of ADPP Birgit Holm, explained that TCE is based on the ideas the “Only the people can liberate themselves from AIDS, the epidemic.”
This philosophy comes from experience and knowledge that in the poorest countries the “normal” health system alone, even with the best intentions, is not at the level needed to fight HIV.   As such, other systems must be put into place to help combat the epidemic.  It is a well-known fact that when people are informed and mobilized, they have the capacity to have a crucial impact on the spread of whatever type of illness or disease.  The TCE program is a systematic approach, which all people in a population of 100,000 are organized in such a way that the “enemy” is intensely fought until the virus is under control and the people are in control.  TCE is a People’s Liberation Movement mobilizing people and forces area after area throughout sub-Saharan Africa to work toward eradicating the HIV virus.
Arlete Calane of Johnson and Johnson had this to say in her speech at the launch:
“As Johnson & Johnson, we are particularly honored to be partners with The Office of H.E. the First Lady of Mozambique, Maria Da Luz Guebuza – along with ADPP as a strong implementing partner in scaling up the TCE program in Mozambique.
Based on the significant results and sound achievements of the project in South Africa, Johnson & Johnson decided in 2009 to invest in scaling up TCE in Mozambique to cover 100,000 people in the province of Maputo.
Again, I want to emphasize that it is a privilege for us to be a partner with ADPP and the Office of the First Lady and I hope that many more partners will be encouraged to join hands with us in bringing the HIV under control by supporting TCE.”
This public-private partnership between ADPP, Johnson & Johnson and The First Lady’s Office is an expansion of the TCE program in Mozambique, which is currently in 6 provinces with 12 TCE Areas in operation reaching 1.2 million people.