Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2006. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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New Vision (Kampala) - December 12, 2006
Fred Ouma
"It has changed my life, I can live healthy. I don't fall sick," says Namusisi, a mother of one and beneficiary of Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) programme.
"My child is HIV-free, something I never thought could happen."
Several other mothers have benefited from the programmes of Protecting Families Against HIV/AIDS (PREFA), a partner organisation of the health centre.
PREFA has helped 2,653 pregnant women to have HIV tests done at the centre. Of these, 164 were HIV positive and the centre is providing antiretroviral (ARV) drugs to 46 HIV positive deliveries (mothers) and 69 infants born to HIV-infected mothers.
"We are providing technical support and training in counselling, infant feeding, paediatric HIV care and rapid testing techniques to ensure a sustainable process," said Dr. David Seruka, the PREFA executive director.
PREFA has also trained 75 community counselling Aides on PMTCT issues and 30 traditional birth attendants in modern health practices.
Seruka said besides providing accommodation for 10 staff of the health centre, they have also provided a computer to ensure proper storage of data, a motorcycle and bicycles to ease movement of health workers deep into the villages.
"Supervision and monitoring PMTCT clients has not been easy due lack of transport. Now we will be able to penetrate every home," said Dr. Diriisa Musisi, the district director of health services.
HIV prevalence in Kayunga is 7.2%, higher than the national prevalence of 6.7%. Figures from HIV counselling and testing centres indicate women at a higher percentage than men.
Musisi commended PREFA and other organisations for the support. He said 55% of HIV-infected mothers in the district were enrolled on the PMTCT programme.
"If the number of people who need antiretrovirals increases every year, it becomes a bottomless pit," said Musisi. "We have to turn the corner, the actual number of people with the disease needs to go down."
As a result PREFA has already conducted a mapping exercise for 26 community-based organisations to assess capacity in dealing with HIV/AIDS service provision in the district.
Seruka says training needs assessment was also conducted in 13 health facilities involving 105 health workers in the district.
"With goodwill and adequate resources, there is no limit to how much we can do to take care of our people," he said.
Dr. James Makumbi, the director of health services for the Uganda People's Defence Force, called on parents and health workers to educate young people about the dangers of HIV and how to prevent it.
Owing to the benefits from the health centre, Kayunga residents refer to it as the "Mulago" of Kayunga.
PREFA operates in Kayunga, Kampala, Wakiso and Tororo.
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