Uganda
Situation Report
The Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), a militia led by Joseph Kony, has been terrorizing northern Uganda since 1986. The rebel attacks have driven 1.5 million people from their homes and forced 25,000 children into conscription as child soldiers. The ongoing war has destroyed infrastructure, including the health care system, and left millions without access to critically needed care.
A permanent cease-fire agreement was signed in 2008 between the government and the LRA. Relative peace has ensued and people are now returning to their homes. However, the needs in the region are still great and security remains fragile.
Our work in Uganda began in 2004 when we implemented the emergency health care program in Lira, Apac and Pader districts. We deployed 45 volunteer medical teams to support this program. Our volunteers worked alongside local medical staff in the Internally Displaced People (IDP) camps, providing care for patients and training for staff. We also supported the project with three shipments of medical supplies for distribution in clinics in Lira and Pader.
- Preventive Health Program
Since 2004, we've provided direct health care services, community health education and immunizations to nearly 500,000 displaced people in various camps, settlements and clinics in Lira, Apac and Pader districts. In anticipation of continued stabilization in the north, we have transitioned from mobile medical care in these districts to preventive health programs in Pader district. Our local Ugandan medical staff visit various sites and provide health promotion and specialized medical services as needed, including HIV and AIDS training and care. - Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV
Medical Teams International is expanding PMTCT services in three Lira health sub-districts. With support from UNICEF and in collaboration with the Lira District Health Office, we are strengthening existing PMTCT services in rehabilitated health centers and establishing additional community access points. We also are increasing community awareness of the importance of knowing one's HIV status and accessing PMTCT services. The project will reduce the vertical transmission of HIV by increasing the availability and utilization of core PMTCT services among women of child bearing age and their children. - HIV and AIDS Education and Testing
Medical Teams International has established a youth-friendly HIV and AIDS education and testing center in Ogur, Lira for resettling youth populations. The Ogur Youth Information and Care Center (OYICC) provides services to decrease HIV infection of at-risk youth through the promotion of healthy behaviors and life skills. We also help increase access to counseling and testing services, treatments and medicines to prevent HIV and AIDS related opportunistic infections. Medical Teams International has been awarded multi-year funding from USAID to implement Child Survival programming in Lira District. The project goal is to reduce child morbidity and mortality by achieving the following objectives:
- Communities assume responsibility for their own health through strengthening community capacity
- Improve health and child care behaviors among mothers of children under 5 years of age
- Improve quality of Health Facility services through strengthened capacity
- Strengthen institutional capacity of MEDICAL TEAMS INTERNATIONAL and the District Health Office to implement effective and efficient child survival activities
- Malaria Communities Project
In October 2009, Medical Teams International began implementing a three year malaria prevention and treatment program in Dokolo and Lira Districts of Uganda. The project goal is to reduce malaria-related morbidity and mortality among pregnant women and children under five years of age. Project objectives are to:
- Increase access and utilization of Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets and Intermittent Preventive Treatment of Malaria in Pregnancy
- Increase access for children and pregnant women to malaria treatment within 24 hours of onset of symptoms
- Southwest Uganda Emergency Response
Since March 2009, with support from PRM, Medical Teams International has been providing primary health care services for over 22,000 refugees (mostly Congolese) at the Nakivale Refugee Settlement in SW Uganda. Medical Teams International partners with the Ministry of Health to provide a fully equipped and staffed medical clinic to provide preventive and curative health care. The goal of this program is to reduce the morbidity and mortality among the refugees living in and around the Juru and Ngarama settlement. The key objectives are:
- Increase access to basic health services for up to 22,580 displaced persons
- Provide comprehensive reproductive health services
- Increase access to HIV/AIDS and STI services
- Provide an adequate and timely medical response to all potential disease outbreaks in Ngarama refugee camp and surrounding Nakivale areas
- Support the development of medical infrastructure development Medical Teams International implements this project will support of talented field staff as well as volunteer teams of medical professionals who provide curative care and training.
Medical Teams International will continue implementing six major health program initiatives in Uganda this year along with emergency response efforts in Southwestern Uganda. We will add one new project, Emergency Medical Care in Kampala, and send six Emergency Medical Care teams and one dental team to support our projects, along with disaster response teams as needed to Southwestern Uganda.
- Emergency Medical Care Project
In FY11 Medical Teams International will begin a new Emergency Medical Care & Prevention project in Kampala in collaboration with our partner Mulago Hospital. The goal of the three year project is to prevent secondary injuries and save lives through emergency medical care (EMC) in Kampala. Uganda Ministry of Health injury and trauma data estimates that for every 10,000 people in the population - over 450 suffer an accidental death. 45% of these deaths are due to road traffic accidents. The first year of the project will focus on initial planning and assessments, curriculum development and initial training of trainers for first responders and master trainers at Mulago Hospital and the Road Police of the Ministry of the Interior. Medical Teams International is a registered non-governmental organization in Uganda that has established by-laws and a board of directors in-country. Medical Teams International-Uganda has satellite offices in Lira District and Pader District, and a country office in Kampala. The programs and offices are led by Country Director, Felix Omodi, who has worked with us since the inception of our projects in 2004. Our staff of 105, all Ugandan nationals, carry out and support programs in Lira, Kampala, Pader, and Mbarara locations.
Our staff has a strong record of providing high quality health services and health education in Lira, Apac, Oyam, Pader and Nakivale Districts. In addition, Medical Teams International-Uganda has established a good working relationship with the local community as well as district health offices, nongovernmental organizations, community health workers and other HIV & AIDS care and support organizations.
Additional funding partners include:
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