The Minister of State for Overseas Development, Michael Kitt TD, today announced a major new package of support for development in Mozambique, worth €208 million over four years. The Minister made the announcement in Maputo at the launch of a new strategy for Irish Aid development cooperation in Mozambique. He was joined at the launch by Mozambique's Minister for Economic Planning and Development, Mr Aiuba Cuereneia.
Under the strategy Mozambique will become Ireland's largest recipient of bilateral aid. Just over a third of the funding will be invested in the Mozambican health sector (€71m over four years). This includes funding for the purchase of HIV treatment anti-retroviral drugs at reduced prices, negotiated by the Clinton Foundation. It will also allow for the establishment of new HIV/AIDS clinics and home-care networks. The HIV/AIDS pandemic has impacted severely on development in Mozambique. Over 16% of Mozambicans aged between 15 and 49 are HIV positive.
Speaking at the launch of the new strategy, Minister Kitt said:
"The Irish Government recognises that Mozambique has made significant progress in tackling poverty but that huge needs remain which require the continued commitment of its international partners. This strategy and the commitment behind it are a strong indication of Ireland's level of support for further development in Mozambique.
I look forward to seeing for myself over the next couple of days the positive impact that Irish Aid support is having on the lives of some of the poorest people of Mozambique."
Note to editors:
Mozambique is one of Irish Aid's nine programme countries in receipt of bilateral support . It is one of the least developed countries in the world (168th out of 177 countries on the UN's Human Development Index) and has been severely impacted by the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Minister of State Kitt is on a three day visit to Mozambique. He will visit an Irish Aid supported hospital and HIV and AIDS care centre. As well as visiting Irish Aid supported projects, he will meet with members of the Mozambican Government.
The four year strategy announced today also directs Irish Aid support to education, good governance and agriculture initiatives, provincial, private sector and civil society development programmes and de-mining projects.
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