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 second quarterly activity report on offer PMTCT services to 2300 poor Ugandan women implemented KADO in Eastern Uganda, in the Districts of Kibuku, Budaka and Pallisa. 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 poor Ugandan women, challenges during project implementation, recommendations and testimony from 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

There is still a challenge of rural women to access PMTCT services. The involvement of male spouses during antenatal visits is limited, rural   women still deliver in the villages by traditional birth attendants and is at risk to HIV/AIDS. Whereas PMTCT services are meant to be free in public facilities, these facilities lack adequate supply of drugs and medical supplies. These facilities are also inadequately staffed and they at times don’t provide counseling services to the women at the health units. In the last quarter, the organization obtained the following results with the support of development partners and its own funding:

1. Conducted 15 community health education visits on positive prevention(PP) family planning reduce unwanted prevention of unwanted pregnancies
2. Tested 154 mothers received HIV/AIDS counseling and testing during antenatal visits at our health facility
3. 164 mothers attended antenatal visits
4. 18 male spouses tested for HIV/AIDS with their female spouses
5. 16 women tested for HIV/AIDS during their labour periods
6. 22 pregnant mothers had safe delivery in the health center
7. Transported blood samples of 8 infants for PCR-HIV DNA
8. 45 mothers attended postnatal care
9. Procured 10 units of medical drugs and sundries
10. Provided permanent family planning services to 24 women at our health facility. This was in partnership with maries top Uganda.

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. Limited involvement of male spouses

Recommendation

There is need for all stakeholders to mainstream community awareness and education on PMTCT in their programmes in order to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS among the infants and improve the health conditions of women living with HIV/AIDS.

Testimony from one beneficiary

Nite Suzan was a pregnant mother aged 24 from Nankokoli village, Kagumu Sub County in Kibuku District. During couple testing, Suzan results were negative and the husband John was positive. When the results were disclosed to the couples, Suzan immediately expressed divorce to her husband before the health worker (counselor) and refused to go back home with the husband. John nearly collapsed in the counseling room. However, the counselor provided education and counseling to the couple that they can continue with marriage utilizing safe sex. Suzan withdrawn the expression of divorce and they returned home. Suzan and john are currently in marriage using safe sex methods and occasionally visit the counselor the health unit for medical advices.

This story is true and explains the reactions of couples when a spouse is tested HIV positive after testing. However, a lot of divorce occurs due to HIV/AIDS among couples and this is as a result of lack of comprehensive counseling and health education.

Prepared by

Samson Namwoyo

Project leader

Links:

• www.kagumudevelopment.org