Prevent HIV infections to children in Uganda

Summary of project activities  

Kagumu Development Organization is a Non-Governmental Organization based in Kibuku District in Eastern Uganda. The organization major programmes are Operation of a health centre 111 Provision of comprehensive health education and services focusing on HIV/AIDS, malaria and other communicable diseases, Provision of knowledge and skills in Integrated Sustainable Agriculture, Provision of Care and support to orphans, vulnerable children and the elderly, Empowering Communities Environmental preservation and Conservation, Advocacy and lobbying on human rights and good governance and General business.

This is the first quarterly activity report on offer PMTCT services to 2300 poor Ugandan women implemented by the Organization in Eastern Uganda, in the Districts of Kibuku, Budaka and Pallisa in collaboration with our donors under Global Giving arrangements. The organization and beneficiaries appreciate the support of all stakeholders to this project that is in cash, materially, morally and in kind

Thanks are goes to global giving team for the wonderful work being done. We have secured support from five donors towards the project. The report expresses quarterly project advancement and therefore, compiled and disseminated to our stakeholders for their consumption. The report gives details on the current status of the orphans, challenges during project implementation, recommendations and testimony from at least a beneficiary. 

Project activities includes; monitoring and evaluation, procure stationery for the office, facilitate transportation of blood samples for CD4 Count,  Community mobilization and sensitization on PMTCT, contribution to health workers welfare, procure medical drugs and sundries and testing kits and procure mama kits and dissemination to mothers during their labour periods and  delivery coaches

Current Status of Offer PMTCT Services to Ugandan Women Project 

 PMTCT services are still poor in the community. There is limited support involvement of male spouses during antenatal visits, mothers still deliver in the villages by traditional birth attendants and are exposed to HIV/AIDS.

In the last quarter, the organization due to limited resources, managed to implement the following in our health center;

1. 1.      Provided health education to 32 HIV positive women on family planning and prevention of unwanted pregnancies
2. 2.      Tested 137 mothers during antenatal visits
3. 3.      137 mothers attended antenatal visits
4. 4.      24 male spouses tested for HIV/AIDS with their female spouses
5. 5.      36 women tested for HIV/AIDS during their labour periods
6. 6.      28 pregnant mothers had safe delivery in the health center
7. 7.      Transported blood samples of five infants for PCR-HIV DNA
8. 8.      87 mothers attended postnatal care

Challenges

1. Limited financial resource
2. Low community awareness on PMTCT
3. High expectations from the beneficiaries
4. Limited support by local leaders to the project
5. No mother received mama kits during deliveries in the quarter  

Recommendation

There is need for continues community awareness and education on PMTCT in order to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS among the infants and improve the health conditions of HIV pregnant mothers. This can only be done through increased financial support by all stakeholders.

Testimony from one beneficiary

This testimony is from Naula Elizabeth, a pregnant mother aged 32 from Kagumu village, Kagumu Sub County in Kibuku District. Elizabeth’s husband died of HIV/AIDS and she remained with three children. She got another man and conceiving, Elizabeth took seven months without attending antenatal visits due to stigma. She was using traditional herbs, and one day when she had stomach pain, she was advised to visit the health center. She developed confidence and went to the health center, where she was counseled, educated and tested for HIV/AIDS. When she received her results that she was negative, she felt very happy because her husband had died of HIV/AIDS. She narrated the story of the death of her husband and the way she was suffering with the children. She had lost hope and her plan was to commit suicide. However, after counseling, she gained hope and pledged to resume her duties and stick to only her current partner. Elizabeth pledged to become a community advisor so that other women go for HIV/AIDS counseling and testing.

This story is true and explains the work of KADO in the health center and in relation to PMTCT and really explains how poor rural pregnant Ugandan women spend their life styles

Prepared by

Samson Namwoyo

Project leader