Local governments have been challenged to include HIV activities in the budget as the only way to achieve the desired target of 95% of testing, adherence and suppression.
This was said over the weekend by Nankabirwa Joyce the programs officer at TASO while addressing the district health stakeholders at the end five year project dubbed Towards an AIDS Free Generation (TAFU II) in Ntungamo district.
Nankabirwa noted that districts should consider taking up donor funded projects such as TAFU II for sustainable achievement rather than setbacks among the beneficiaries.
She hailed the director of Appropriate Rural Initiative for Strategic Empowerment (ARISE), the former Ntungamo district woman MP Beatrice Rwakimaari for supporting the health system in the country and Ntungamo district in particular.
This community-based program traces children living with HIV, who are not yet enrolled in health care or have dropped out, refer them to health centres and follow up on them after they are enrolled in care.
Appropriate Rural Initiative for Strategic Empowerment (ARISE) is an NGO with funds from Aidsfonds based in Netherlands has been implementing the Towards an AIDS Free generation starting with 0-14 of age in Uganda (TAFU II).
The project was implemented in the five district of Uganda including, Kyenjojo,Mityana,Mubende, Soroti and Ntungamo and in Ntungamo was in sub counties and town councils of Ntungamo, Rubaare, Nyakyera and Ngoma since 2017.
The District health officer Twesigye Nesterio commended the work done of tracing children under 0-14 years who are enrolled to ARVs and were supported with financial assistance.
The ARISE coordinator Innocent Mwesigye revealed that over 221 children were identified and helped to get drugs and they are now well.
He thanked the Aidsfonds based in Netherlands for considering Ntungamo district in the last five years project which has ended successfully.
However, the program officer ARISE Ninsiima Flavia expressed worry over the plight of children who were enrolled in the program yet the project has ended appealing to the district’s other implementing partners to consider extending health services to them and other sub counties.
Ninsiima revealed that most people living with HIV/AIDs in Ntungamo had stopped from taking ARVs that resulted in drug resistance and death, especially to newborn children.
She noted that over 10 village saving and loan schemes were initiated as self help projects for the families with children on ARVs which must continue.
Christopher Nshemereza who represented the chief administrative officer pledged to consider the budget of HIV related activities as they are still in the budgeting process.
All members of the groups of Kikoni Magaramarungi,Butare Kwetungura,Kibingo Tukwatanise,Rwenyonyozi development Assn and Kyabukuuju Tukore have hailed Hon Rwakimaari for lobbying for them and their children.
Do you have a story in your community or an opinion to share with us: Email us at editorial@watchdoguganda.com
