Engen and SIC to Combat HIV/AIDS in Tanzania

Engen Petroleum has partnered with Support for International Change (SIC), a Tanzania-based organization, to help drive its campaigns to eliminate the spread of HIV/AIDS and empower rural communities.

The company is donating up to 2,000 litres of diesel per month to the organization, which was founded in 2002. The contribution is adding much-needed impetus to SIC’s community services, which include mobile voluntary counselling and testing, running awareness campaigns, treatment and community-based training and supervision.

“The partnership between Engen and SIC has been under way since 2010, and is one of a number of CSI initiatives that Engen Tanzania is involved in,” says Mubita Akapelwa, MD of Engen Tanzania. He notes that Engen and SIC share the common goal of working towards building sustainable communities.

“Engen’s involvement is greatly appreciated by the Tanzanian people, and by our field staff, volunteers and counsellors, who are now able to travel longer distances to reach the most disadvantaged communities of Tanzania,” says Kati Regan, SIC Tanzanian MD.

She says on World AIDS day, Engen’s assistance enabled SIC staff to reach Nduruma, where over 200 people were tested for HIV. Regan adds that, in December 2011, SIC extended its range of services to include the assessment of HIV support groups, making Engen’s contribution even more crucial.