HIV/AIDS Programs

The UN reports more than two thirds of all people infected with HIV live in sub-Saharan Africa. 22.4 million people are living with HIV. More than 20 million people living in Africa have died from AIDS. Life expectancy has been reduced to 47 years.

AIDS continues to be the biggest threat to Africa’s development. A large number of key family members in the prime of their working life, farmers, teachers, shop owners, civil servants and young professionals are dying leaving dependent children and other family members without resources to provide food, shelter, education and other basic necessities.

Uganda has been severely affected by the AIDS pandemic. For over 20 years, Uganda has seen death on a massive scale, and many more will die in the years to come. What was once productive farmland has become grave sites, former thriving shops are boarded shut and abandoned.

National statistics indicate nearly 100,000 people in Uganda die every year from AIDS. Estimated one million people are living with HIV including 150,000 children.

Uganda has over two million orphaned children, 1,200,000 due to AIDS.

The toll that AIDS can take on children and young people is dramatic. Not only do they mourn the loss of their parents and loved ones, the very prospect of their survival is at risk. They may be shuffled from relative to relative where they are often abused, used as child labor and in many cases totally abandoned and forced to live on their own where they turn to begging, sex trade, petty crime and other desperate measures to survive.

To visit Uganda and witness these children and their daily struggles is a sad and disturbing experience for anyone. Something we all agree should not happen.

This problem is exacerbated by poverty, illiteracy, weak education, inadequate and in many villages the total lack of any health care. The problem is further compounded by the low social status of women. In many instances women are exposed to AIDS through unwanted and unsafe relationships against their will. In many rural areas nearly 40% of newborn children have AIDS.

HIV infection has many associated illnesses that continue to make its management very difficult. Many who are receiving the ARV drugs continue to die of opportunistic infections which are not easily managed because the drugs are not available and if they are, they are quite expensive for the patients.

What We Do

United Children’s Fund provides many programs in the highest risk areas on education and prevention of AIDS.

Community health care workers using the local culture and communication strategies familiar to the local residents conduct these programs. Testing is strongly encourage for all men and women. Many of those tested refuse to learn the results, however the local health care workers are able to monitor them and provide guidelines on living and eating habits.

These programs include:

  • Educational programs for women to promote the prevention of HIV infection
  • Ensure men are informed of the role and responsibility in preventing AIDS
  • Promote access to high quality voluntary testing and counseling for pregnant women
  • Reduce stigma and discrimination towards women who choose not to breastfeed in areas where avoidance of breastfeeding is interpreted as evidence of having AIDS
  • Ensure that care and support services for mothers living with AIDS and their families are available and accessible over the long term

In addition to these critical programs, United Children’s Fund has provided millions of dollars of life saving ARV drugs to young people living with AIDS.

Many of these people are college students who depend on these drugs to maintain their health, and to continue their studies with  hope for a future.

Our medical partner in Uganda is Makerere University Hospital in Kampala. This facility is fully accredited by the Uganda Health Ministry. In addition to serving the students of Makerere University, the facility has outreach programs to help those who are unable to come to the clinic. The clinic has 297 registered in its confidential HIV care programs. These students, like the girl who wrote her story below, receive the drugs UCF provides to the clinic.

A young girl writes:

Living a positive life has caused a lot of challenges in my personal life, including social, psychological, financial and health issues. It is challenging trying to believe in myself while my friends and relatives have a negative attitude toward people of my status.

This has been aggravated by my class room surrounding where AIDS is the topic of the day, ranging from the lecture to social talks. In such environment I am always stigmatized and wish I could create a private environment of my own. This has caused me to doubt my success in life.

In addition, being HIV positive comes along with a lot of other diseases including malaria which I have suffered. Treatment of these diseases is a big challenge to me because it is quite expensive. Many times I have to forego food to meet my medical bills.

At this point I want to thank the university hospital and our friends from United Children’s Fund in Canada and the USA for providing the ARV drugs and Spetrine for me. I pray the supply of the drugs to continue for me and the other students. Without them we would have little hope.

Dr. Jane Bbose, Director of the hospital writes:

“Makerere University Hospital continues to appreciate the support and friends from United Children’s Fund in Canada and USA for the care they are offering our clients mainly by providing them with ARV drugs that are an integral component for prolonging their lives. We kindly request United Children’s Fund continues to know the challenges we face with the same helping spirit for us in the future.

How You Can Help Them

This program is one of the most critical activities we can provide and we need your generous support to continue.

The men, women and children in Africa are depending on your compassion and kindness.

Please give what ever you can today for this vital mission.

Any amount, no matter the size, can and will make a big difference in the life of someone who will never have the resources to repay you except with their heartfelt appreciation and gratitude.

Thanks to you we will continue helping those who need help the most!