Rwenzori Center for Research and Advocacy Uganda
Rwenzori Center for Research and Advocacy Uganda
This project aims to prevent new HIV infections and reduce vulnerability among orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) and adolescent girls and young women. Mobilizing members of communities in Kasese District to protect themselves against HIV, through raising awareness and provision of resources. The project achieves this through informatively educating communities on the primary causes of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Uganda; teaching of key preventative techniques; providing connections to relevant HIV/AIDS health facilities and support services; and providing ongoing nutritional support to existing HIV+ individuals to improve quality of life.
The project mobilized members of communities in Kasese District to protect themselves against HIV, through raising awareness and provision of resources. The project achieves this through informatively educating communities on the primary causes of the HIV/AIDS
epidemic in Uganda; teaching of key preventative techniques; providing connections to relevant HIV/AIDS health facilities and support services; and providing ongoing nutritional support to existing HIV+ individuals in order to improve quality of life. Some of the activities
included:
HIV/AIDS community engagement sessions conducted in local communities in Kasese with district, venue and staff arranged and sessions advertised to local community members. Brainstorming, experience-sharing and role play methods were used to educate participants about causes: unprotected sex, sharing needles, transmission through wounds and mother-to-child transmission Participants taught about prevention: condoms, being faithful to partners, abstinence, covering up wounds, taking care with needles,
questioning the status of sexual partners, getting tested, and early
identification of HIV in the event of an event of sexual violence;
group discussion about common myths of HIV/AIDS; Drama and
singing used to engage participants; People connected to local
HIV/AIDS clinics for ongoing support and testing.
Distribution of kitchen garden inputs-Communities mobilised
by RCRA staff, community health workers and para social workers prior to date of activity; distribution of inputs to HIV+ caregivers in communities including eggplant seeds, sukumawiki seeds, tomato seeds, cabbage seeds and dodo seeds.
The project increased the number of local people going to get tested at local clinics through tackling stigmatization. Community members are educating others in their villages concerning the causes of HIV/AIDS, and relevant prevention measures.