World AIDS Day - Comboni Samaritans of Gulu

Comboni Samaritans work is helping the whole community (Photo: Sean Sprague)

The Comboni Samaritans in Gulu, Northern Uganda are provided vital to support to many people living with HIV/AIDS. One year on from the start of their project we visit them to see how things have progressed

The main aim of the project is for 1,500 people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) to be supported physically (and psychologically if required) in the home. PLWHA, their relatives and community members will be kept accurately informed of all their care needs and any aspects which might affect them such as mother to child transmission and opportunistic infections.

See how the first year went in pictures and figures below:

The people targeted during year one included:

1,500 weak and bed ridden PLWHA living in Gulu, Amuru and Nwoya
50 households led by children
60 support groups with 20 members each (1,200 members)
Families and community members affected by HIV/AIDS (4,50 family members, plus community members)

Comboni Samaritans were able to carry out the following activities:

32 community volunteers were trained in basic nursing. They provide care to bed ridden patients and manage referrals to the project.
Community volunteers meet on a monthly basis with family and community members to discuss the care needs of PLWHA
500 home based care kits have been distributed to those looking after PLWHA. These kits included latex gloves, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, plastic sheeting and basins.
Basic nursing care and psychological support was provided by family members and community care givers on a daily basis to 1,204 PLWHA
50 families led by children were provided with additional food
Over 6,400 people attended monthly village meetings aimed at educating people on the issues surrounding HIV/AIDS
20 PLWHA support groups were formed and will continue to raise awareness within the communities
Rupiny FM (local radio station) aired 3 radio shows discussing HIV/AIDS
149 PLWHA who developed complications during the last 12 months were provided with home based care and referred to St Mary's Hospital in Lacor for further medical attention
Local support groups held monthly advocacy meetings. Their awareness campaigns focused on HIV/AIDS as well as other social issues such as domestic abuse.
At a meeting in November 2010 which promoted voluntary counselling and testing, 673 community members were tested for HIV, with 14 people testing positive.

Challenges lie ahead for Comboni Samaritans. The increasing cost of fuel has limited the ability of staff to visit projects regularly or implement certain activities. Furthermore, food prices have risen dramatically in Uganda and this has meant that child led families could not receive the intended amount of supplementary food and non food items.

The project has uncovered many interesting learnings. PLWHA prefer to be counselled by others in the same situation, they feel that these people understand how they feel. Comboni Samaritans has identified and trained 32 voluntary counsellors.

Continuous support, radio shows and the work with client support groups led to an increase in the production of HIV/AIDS information, a reduction of the surrounding stigma and discrimination within the communities.

SCIAF

Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund

World AIDS Day - Comboni Samaritans of Gulu