Prevent HIV infections to children in Uganda

Summary of project activities

Provision HIV/AIDS prevention and management services to children are still limited in Uganda particularly in Kibuku, Pallisa and Budaka districts. With financial support from development partners, the organization is implementing this project and this is the quarterly report which stipulates the progress for period of January to March, 2016 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. Achievements and challenges are presented and disseminated to our stakeholders for their utilization. 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 prevention of HIV infection in children in Uganda  

EMTCT services are still very poor in the community because there is limited male involvement during antenatal and maternity visits. Supply of MAMA kits and gloves among other is inadequate in public health facilities and are quite expensive for mothers in private health faculties. 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 24 HIV positive women on family planning services
2. Tested 160 mothers for HIV during antenatal visits
3. 160 mothers attended antenatal visits
4. 42 male spouses tested for HIV/AIDS with their female spouses
5. 160 women tested for HIV/AIDS during their labour periods
6. 48 pregnant mothers had safe delivery in the health center
7. Made 5 trips of blood samples of infants for PCR-HIV DNA
8. 93 mothers attended postnatal care
9. 48 mothers received mama kits

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 procure MAMA kits for mothers during their labour period.
2. Inadequate financial and material support by sub county and district local government.
3. Limited support by local leaders. Local leaders are silent on disseminating EMTCT messages in public places. They think it is a preserve for health workers.  
4. 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.
5. Inadequate of HIV testing kits and sundries. Some time we run shortage of testing kits.

Recommendation

All stake holders are requested to provide support to save the children in Uganda. Children being the tomorrows’ leaders.

Testimony from one beneficiary

This is testimony of Agnes who is a child mother of one girl child. Agnes was defiles when she was in primary seven in 2015 and the defiler was imprisoned. During antenatal visit of Agnes to our health centre she was tested HIV/AIDS positive. it was she learnt that the man he had relation with was positive. Agnes was so worried that she wanted to commit suicide. The workers at the health centre counseled her and she was enrolled ART.

Through a lot of counseling and routine home visit to Agnes by our health staff, she lost stigma and now she is on positive living life. We are very happy that is actively reporting for antennal car on the days given to her by the health workers. the health workers also promise AGNES TO produce a child free from HIV/AIDS .

This story gives picture of what our gild children face and the services we provide to them at our center III in relation to HIV/AIDS.

Prepared by

Samson Namwoyo

Project leader

Links:

• http://www.kagumudevelopment.org