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Sweden has provided ZWD50 billion to mitigate the impact of HIV & AIDS & drought in the Midlands province
Government of Sweden
March 30, 2006

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/VBOL-6NHJ4Q?OpenDocument&rc=1&cc=zwe

The projects, implemented jointly by the Swedish Cooperative Centre and the Midlands Aids Service Organisation (MASO), seek to mitigate the effects of drought and HIV and AIDS on food security for vulnerable households and communities through enhanced production of sweet potato and cassava. The project is in its third year of implementation and the support will enable the projects to continue until 2008.

Swedish Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Sten Rylander, toured the projects today and called for increased efforts in integrating the various components of the programme. "It is important that the food insecurity of households and communities affected by drought and HIV and AIDS be addressed from a multi-dimensional perspective. It is not enough to look at mitigation from a health perspective alone, which explains Sweden's continued support to these important interventions in these areas," says Rylander.

He added: "the people of Midlands should be commended for their strong efforts so far. But more needs to be done to let the people take full ownership and responsibility for their own development."

The projects are run in close collaboration with community structures established through the Small Holder Drought Mitigation Programme (SDMP) and MASO's home based care teams.

The support from the Swedish embassy will enable the SCC and MASO to provide training, both in agriculture methods and HIV/AIDS related issues, and supply planting material.

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