HIV/AIDS is the main cause of death among adults, Youth, and the second most important cause of death among women in Uganda today. CYORF is involved in HIV/AIDS sensitization programme based on moral conduct and behavior change.
To some people AIDS is still a taboo while to others it´s charm or witchcraft. Many people are still ignorant of HIV/AIDS.
We teach the general public facts about HIV/AIDS, nutrition and sexually transmitted diseases; what it is not, how it spreads, how you can protect yourself getting infected, psychological care and emotional support for the sick. CYORF conducts this in villages under trees, house to house, in families, community centers, higher institutions of learning, in schools primary and secondary teaching children and adults.
We also use a crusade approach which enables easy mobilization of grass root population at one time with the help of our community based representatives and community leaders of that particular village. (MASS BOTTOM UP PARTICIPATORY APPROACH).
In the Villages there are so many Cultural beliefs and practices that are in them selves supposed to be positive issues, but are becoming a threat in the spread of HIV/AIDS.
One of them is the Wife inheriting. The brother inherits the wife of the deceased; and in most cases, the deceased has died of AIDS. The other one is Circumcision- this is where several Children are circumcised at the same time with the same knife without sterilizing many families use the same needle for treatment (injection) without sterilizing; also this is due to poverty not being able to buy for each person in the house. CYORF members go deep in the villages among the rural poor where information on HIV/AIDS is scanty and most people have no access to better health care facilities and education.
Results from this village mission calls for a mobile clinic concept; This mobile clinic would go to the village centres treating affected people on particular days of the month. The clinic would administer drugs and offer counselling to clients. Some of the children have the disease themselves passed down from mother to child at birth, breast-feeding. When they finally become weak and are about to die, a child in such a home becomes the head of the Household (like father or mother). This child begins to care for the dying parent in addition to going to school and caring for his /her young sisters and brothers. This causes additional problems to the organization to meet the needs of such children given the limited resources available.
HIV/AIDS Dilemma: Field Reports at Glance
Given the rampant poverty in villages, there is usually no money at all so the dying patient cannot even afford the simplest medical treatment to help with their common ailments! These conditions normally confront the patients even though without any possible help, thus shortening their lives. Worst, some people are ignorant and associate the sickness with witchcraft or superstition, given the high level of illiteracy in rural areas. |
