Mental Health for the Elderly and Disabled Programme

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS AND INTERNS TO SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH FOR THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED PROGRAMME

The Integrated Mental Health Initiatives invites expression of interest from prospecting volunteers and interns to support MENTAL HEALTH FOR THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED PROGRAMME in Uganda.

Much concentration has been put on the adolescents and midlife categories overtime until recently when we found greatest ever neglect of the elderly and disabled whose mental states have showed to deteriorate much with age. Without interventions the secondary effects have impacted caregivers and relatives, leading family level mental health concerns, who reacting many ways including further negligence, which prompts earlier deaths.

We hope that extension of mental health services to the elderly and disabled, who cannot afford costly access to professional services, will resurrect spirits, renewed positive energies and strength for them to live happy and longer lives through our initiative's homebased intervention.

Currently 99% either are unaware of existence of such services or cannot afford them. It is upon this basis that the Integrated Mental Health Initiative calls upon interns and volunteers to support MENTAL HEALTH FOR THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED PROGRAMME in Uganda and extend services to them by volunteering, interning on it and by fundraising or donating to it. Volunteers and interns are needed twice a year -from February to April and June to August.

To volunteer, intern, fundraise or to donate write to us - dishma.imhs@gmail.com

Opportunities at the Union of Community Development Volunteers Organization

Hunger and malnutrition are said to be the number one health threat worldwide. Fatality-wise World Food Program (WFP) rates it higher than HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis –combined.

There are numerous causes of hunger that can be told. WFP suggests the following key causes: conflict, poverty, poor agricultural infrastructure and over-exploitation of the environment.

Besides, there is silent hunger characterized by micro-nutrient deficiencies –which make people susceptible to infectious diseases, impair physical and mental development, reduce labor productivity, and increase the risk of premature deaths.

Estimates from WFP show 925 million people under-malnourished. In Uganda WFP has done well to better the hunger situation in north eastern region (Karamoja) by extending assistance to families in form of nutritional supplements and education.

Reports show 1 of every 6 children born with low birth rate due to under-malnutrition among pregnant women in developing countries. The trends threaten survival of the human race.. The millennium development goals stipulate the need to halve hunger by 2015 as most top agenda.

Despite efforts to address rising hunger, it continues to paralyze human security. Malnutrition affects 32.5% of children in developing countries. Them, pregnant women, disabled and elderly are most at risk. Raising awareness and practical assistance are critical needs followed by economic empowerment for sustainable food access.

The Union of Community Development Volunteers (UCDV) is a charity organization that began work in 2002, and with head offices in Mengo, Kampala. It highlighted water and sanitation as most pertinent need vital to all efforts towards attainment of food security.

Water security guaranteed community of crop and livestock production throughout the year. It also ensures that the water provided is safe and accessible by the underprivileged communities in Uganda.

We found it right that by providing free and safe water, we help to save communities of water expenses (poverty alleviation) and to maintain healthy and productive population, able to work and produce food.

Today the organization operates in 10 districts. UCDV works with volunteers coming from all over the world for many reasons; including charity, personal fulfillment and satisfaction, career progress, and research.

We therefore welcome applications that target the following areas of work:

1. Water and Sanitation

2. Environment Education and Protection

3. Women and Children

4. Disabled and the Elderly

 5. Elementary Education, Vocation, and Life skills

6. Partnership and Child-sponsorship Relations

7. Concept Development and Fund-raising 8. Reproductive Health

9. Livelihood Development

10. Research and Reporting

For more information regarding volunteer positions and internships, contact us through the address below:

Coordinator,

Volunteer Development Program,

 UCDV UGANDA,

P.O. BOX P.O. BOX 35792, KAMPALA – UGANDA

+256 414 690 897/ +256 782 713 500

ucdvolunteers@yahoo.com or info@ucdv.org