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The SAS Winner’s society recently set out to reach out to the communities and children who participate in the mentorship program. The program was aimed at children ages 0-14 to enable:
1. Sensitize them about HIV
2. To teach children life skills and reproductive health in a classroom setting
3. To have one-on-one and group discussion, three times a week extending for more than one term.
DID WE ACCOMPLISH OUR OBJECTIVES?
Voluntary Counseling and Testing was organized for two days ( 25th and 26th April 2008), at Treasured Kids Primary School in Lussaze, Rubaga Division, to provide VCT service to the communities of Lugala, Lunguja, Lussaze, Kosovo ,Lubya and Kasubi. The table below illustrates the results of this activity showing figures and percentages in various age groups and genders.
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Dates: 25th 26th
April 2008 |
Total Tested |
Negative results |
positive results |
Total percentage |
Total percentage of positive results |
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Friday-Saturday |
157 |
151 |
6 |
100% |
3.8 |
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Gender distribution |
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male |
43 |
42 |
1 |
27.4 |
0.6 |
|
Female |
114 |
109 |
5 |
72.6 |
3.2 |
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Age distribution |
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Children 0-14 |
35 |
34 |
1 |
22.3 |
16.7 |
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Children 15-18 |
47 |
47 |
- |
29.9 |
- |
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18-49 years |
67 |
63 |
4 |
42.7 |
66.6 |
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Elderly above 49 years |
8 |
7 |
1 |
5.1 |
16.7- |
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|
157 |
151 |
6 |
100 |
100 |
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Targeted Number of VCT Clients |
200 |
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Rapid Test Kits provided By Hope Project |
200 |
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VCT Rapid Test Kits Used |
157 |
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SAS Technical and material Support
Community Participation and contribution
SAS Clinic and SAS Foundation Financial
Support
USAID Project Hope
Political Support |
1. Medical doctor, 1. Lab. Technician, 1. Nurse, 2. VCT counselor, 1. Supervisor, 1. Team Leader
2. Materials used
Ø Vacutainer needles
Ø Alcohol swab
Ø Cotton wool
Ø Disinfectants
Ø Vacutainers needle holders
Ø Vacutainers bottles
Ø Gloves and plasters
· Community Church provided rooms for the VCT
· The Church and the School mobilized community members
· The School provided Furniture
Dr. Robert Muhumuza and USA Partners
Provided Financial Support
Ø Provided VCT Rapid Test Kits
Ø The Division DEO Mr. Nsereko addressed the Parents and children |
7 |
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INPUT
Technical and material support were provided by the SAS Clinics
The USAID Project Hope provided Rapid Test kits |
OUTPUT
· The community participation and mobilization by the Church and the School
· Parents brought their children to be tested
· Children Invited parents to take the test and asked parents permission to be tested
· 157 adults and children were tested
· The youngest person to be tested is a 2years child who tested positive
· The oldest person was an 87 man who also tested positive
· The highest percentage was Female with 72.6%
· The highest in age bracket were 18-49 with 42.7 %
· The lowest were above 49 year who were 5.1 %
· The Female had the highest number of HIV positive results with3.2 % of the total figure
· One man and one child tested positive while four women were reactive. |
OUTCOMES
Members of the communities of Lunguja, Lussaze, Lugala, Kosovo and Kasubi/Lubya
Participated in the two days VCT
The support of the parents teachers and the church members
The Director of the Treasured Kids and his wife led the community to take HIV test.
The Church and the school provided volunteers to guide people prepare the classrooms and did any other assistance requested for by the Team.
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OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES
a) The team was encouraged by the turn up by the members of the public although publicity was done largely though the church members and the School children.
b) The enthusiasm shown by the children to understand what was taking place at the VCT sight
c) The big turn to participate I the sensitization exercise in the morning of Friday, approximately 600 people attended the Doctors talk and the DEOs address.
However there also Challenges:
· The indifference shown by the press to inform the public about such important events
· The high bureaucracy Government organs involved in providing the test kits
· Funds to meet the costs of the program such as transport, allowances for the team etc.
· Costs of training the VCT counseling and acquisition of training materials and allowances
· Funds to carry out advocacy and mobilization of political and community leadership support of the program
· Heavy reliance o the services of the SAS professionals who must be engaged I the clinical work at their work station.
Appreciation
The SAS Foundation is highly indebted and Thankful to the following Groups
1. The USAID Project Hope for Supplying us with the Rapid Test Kits at a short notice
2. The President of SAS for the Financial support
3. The Medical department of SAS Clinic for sending medical professionals
4. The Community Church and the leadership of Treasured Kids for hosting the program
5. The leadership of Rubaga Division Education Department for the moral support
6. All our partners for the guidance as this was our first time to carry out this exercise
7. The entire team which participated in the VCT Program for those two days.
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