By Jacob Waiswa
Project Lead Organization: Dishma Inc. P.O. Box 8885, Kampala-Uganda www.situationhealthanalysis.blogspot.com dishma.imhs@gmail.com
In Partnership With: Makerere University Institute of Psychology (MUIP), Student Partnership Worldwide (SPW) and Uganda Village Project (UVP)
Background:
Work was among young people in the context of identifying challenges affecting the fight against HIV/AIDS was carried out in the districts of Kampala under Makerere University Institute of psychology), Iganga under the Uganda Village Project and Mayuge District under student partnership worldwide between the years 2007 and 2009.
Programme Description:
In Kampala Dishma Inc. worked with three different health service providers who included Kawempe Health Center, Naguru Health Center, Meeting Point International (Naguru) with the aim of integrating positive living, resilience and spirituality in HIV/AIDS care and treatment and monitor benefits to sustaining life of young people living with HIVAIDS and possible challenges to that effect.
The Iganga work focused on identifying of key sexual reproductive challenges and developing effective interventions. Our team worked closely with Busembatia Health Center and opinion leaders to reaching accurate conclusions for right decision making.
In Mayuge District, Kityerera Sub-county work centered on carrying out baseline surveys on people’s health states and development stature and adoption of interventions to improve them. Such interventions included; trainer of trainers, livelihoods and development training for health groups, school and out of school outreaches, community meetings and sensitizations and collaborative discussions with health care organizations at grassroot levels. These included Mayuge Health Center IV, Post Test Clubs, Elizabeth Glazer affiliate groups and faith-based organizations.
Lessons Learnt:
Sensitivity to sex education as though act never existed was serious set-back to HIV/AIDS educations mainly in the faith-based institutions. They preferred child curiosity to empowerment.
Sex education was restricted to upper classes or schools. That is; from primary five to primary seven -with exception of secondary schools.
It was hardest to pass information to primary schools compared to secondary schools and adult meetings (community). Attention span was shortest with them. It was always argued the canning was the only means of communications which brought worry among implementers with development of child rights.
Despite community vigilance in the fight against HIV/AIDS, funding was always and remained a set-back.
Care and treatment was out of reach by communities living 5km and beyond. They resorted to herbs and witchcraft to treat AIDS rather than neutralize HIV with right medications as ARVs and Septrin.
Behavior change efforts were much desirable as some areas nursed a culture of absolute polygamy, child marriages –especially among tabliqs and child prostitution.
Condoms did not have significance to them. When trained in relevancy and use hardly could they identify source. Shops lacked them as one of the essentials while health center was too far.
Education which increased child commitment to career development rather than reckless behavior early in life was not a value as anyone who afforded a hoe automatically got himself a job.
Malaria and shortage of land as an economic resource was the biggest threat to survival. And care and treatment wound be most meaningful if poverty and unemployment were addressed.
Overcrowding during clinic days undermined positive living mentality already developing in patient’s lives.
HIV+ stature and treatment and care were kept secret by affected spouses as much as maternity and PMTCT concerns to women only, which undermined efforts to control and prevent spread HIV/AIDS.
Illegal foster parenting, orphanages and unsolicited custodianship of uncles and relatives was one of the worst agents of psychological trauma in children which escalated their health.
Conclusion:
State of the economy right from individual level to household was profoundly important –pivotally in every effort geared towards HIV/AIDS fight.
Recommendations:
Extend services of care, treatment and development to village or local council for even resource distribution and integrate meditation and emotional techniques in fostering or rediscovering right state of wellness.
Begin sex education right from 8 years and anytime the child begins to questions sex-related issues.
Intensify efforts towards behavioral change communication with priority given to deprived areas like Mayuge.
Encourage livelihood development initiatives for needy HIV/AIDS affected households as soft, easily accessible loans or grants and provision could be used as an incentive to encourage men involvement in PMTCT efforts.
Supervise and legalize custodianship of children under strict system of monitoring and evaluation
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