Prevent HIV infections to children in Uganda

Summary of project activities

Kagumu Development Organization in the virtue of contributing to the reduction of HIV/AIDS in children and it is implementing a prevention of mother to child transmission PMTCT project and in Uganda.   This is the fourth quarterly activity report of the project. The project is named “offer PMTCT services to 2300 poor Ugandan women” and it is implemented in Eastern Uganda, in the Districts of Kibuku, Budaka and Pallisa in collaboration with our donors under Global Giving arrangements and the community. The organization and beneficiaries extend appreciation for the support from all stakeholders to this project that is in cash, materially, morally and in kind. Further thanks are goes to global giving team for the wonderful work being done. The report expresses quarterly project advancement and consequently, compiled and disseminated to our stakeholders for their utilization. The report gives information on the existing position of the orphans, challenges during project execution, recommendations and testimony from at least a beneficiary. On request, the organization asking for commentary and advises on how to make this project realize results.

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 because there is limited male involvement during antenatal and maternity visits. In addition, mothers still deliver in the villages by traditional birth attendants and are exposed to HIV/AIDS.

In the last quarter, the organization managed to implement the following;

1. Provided health education to 11 HIV positive women on family planning sevices
2. Tested 112 mothers during antenatal visits
3. 1 23 mothers attended antenatal visits
4. 15 male spouses tested for HIV/AIDS with their female spouses
5. 24 women tested for HIV/AIDS during their labour periods
6. 19 pregnant mothers had safe delivery in the health center
7. Made 9 trips of blood samples of infants for PCR-HIV DNA
8. 51mothers attended postnatal care

Challenges

The under listed challenges still exist and need to be solved in order to realize the project outcomes and impact:

1. There is limited organization financial resource. The organization is majorly donor dependence and realizes limited profit from its organization. Even the little are not adequate to pay staff salaries and remunerations including office operations
2. Inadequate financial and material support by sub county and district local government.
3. Low community awareness on PMTCT. There are still traditional birth attendants and are conducting deliveries illegally in villages.
4. High expectations from the beneficiaries. Beneficiaries are low income earners and therefore require everything needed for antenatal and maternity
5. Limited support by local leaders. Local leaders are silent on disseminating PMTCT messages in public places. They think it is a preserve for health workers.  
6. Low male involvement in EMTCT. Due to lack of community awareness, male involvement in supporting their spouses for antenatal visits is limited. This gives chance for rural women to seek antenatal services from traditional and unprofessional health workers

Recommendation

There is need for increased community awareness on EMTCT as this will enhance increased involvement of all stakeholders the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS among the infants and improve the health conditions of HIV pregnant mothers.

Testimony from one beneficiary

This testimony is for Naizuli Mary a pregnant child mother aged 14 from Kagondo village in Bulangira sub county kibuku District. She was pregnanted at school in senior one by a boda- boda cyclist who ran away after realizing that it was   it was a clime. In most cultures in Uganda, particularly in the project area when a girl child gets pregnant, she ceases obtaining most support of the parents. In addition pregnant girls are set to go and marry the person responsible for the pregnancy. In case the person responsible for the pregnancy not known or disappear, the girl is left to sit home and be provided with only food and shelter without support like medical care, closing including love by the parents.  

In this case, as marry   left as the person responsible for the pregnancy is on the run. Mary being primegravid (PG) HAD not attended antenatal for that four month as the parents were not happy due the funds they had spent on her education to senior one.

During home based immunization activity which was conducted this year 18th-20 January, 2015, it was when our health staff indentified her. She was asked why she had not attended any antenatal clinic and reported that she had no husband to take her for the services because at the health unit they require the responsible person for the pregnancy. She was counseled and advised to report to the health centre for antenatal services. She reported to the health centre, received services and she revealed to the health workers that she was planning to make abortion which is really very illegal action in Uganda. However, she vowed that she will not abort and will deliver in the health center. In addition she vowed not to maryy the boy responsible for the pregnancy but will ask for an excuse from the parents and to take her back to schools such that she completes her studies as this was caused by puberty stage and the environment.

Tales of this nature are good because they educate everybody. Indeed, this is a true and gives picture of the work of KADO in her health center III in relation to EMTCT. and this is what is happening in rural communities in Uganda. And this is also how child mothers   joke with their lives under pregnancy

Prepared by

Samson Namwoyo

Project leader

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