The Passion for Life Project

Since the inception of the organization in 2000, the organization  has been involved in HIV/AIDS programmes up till now. HIV/AIDS  programmes are the organations main focus.

This project is currently implemented in Masaka District and we hope expand it to other districts when we get funds. The project  falls within the framework of Uganda National HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan  for 2006 – 2010.

The Passion for Life Project started two years ago and  has four main components.

FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL VOLUNTARY COUNSELING AND TESTING  SERVICE

People lack knowledge of exact VCT process and this makes them  reluctant in taking the test. There is no health facility that offers  VCT service in the district. This makes it difficult for people willing  to know their sero-status.

The VCT is known to be the gateway to prevention and treatment and  care services. Poverty has made it impossible for people within the  District to have access to VCT services since they have to travel all  the way to Cape Coast District/Regional Hospital for the test.

Voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) for HIV is an essential link  between HIV prevention and HIV care and support. VCT promotes and  sustains behavior change, and links with interventions to prevent  mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT), prevent sexually transmitted  infections (STIs), and prevent and treat tuberculosis (TB) and other  opportunistic infections (OIs).

VCT also facilitates early referral to comprehensive clinical and  community-based prevention, care and support services, including access  to antiretroviral therapy (ART). VCT improves quality of life and may  play a pivotal role in reducing stigma. The VCT will also help have  database of PLWHA within the District.

Before we go to the community for testing, we go from community to  community to educate/sensitise inhabitants on the importance of VCT.  The role of the Education is to change people Behavior and Perceptions  about the test. The role of the Behaviour Change Communication  Education on VCT is to promote VCT services, and work on the underlying  issues of stigma associated with voluntary counseling and testing.

Many people in Uganda understand that blood testing is involved in  VCT, but they do not understand the specifics of what this test will  prove. The project will also reduce peoples fear in taking the test.  The test is free, there is no charge.

CARE AND SUPPORT

Socio-cultural factors such as Stigma, Discrimination, and denial  make the care and support for PLWHA a daunting challenge in the Masaka District. Prevailing belief systems about the causes  of the epidemic also have complications for the reporting and  management of the infection. For example people quickly associate  HIV/AIDS infection with a promiscuous lifestyle but may not realise  that their vulnerability is related to infidelities of their spouse or  partner.

Stigma and Discrimination against people Living With HIV/AIDS  prevent them to come out for any Care or Support. They also do not  patronise MTCT programmes due to stigma and discrimination. They prefer  seeking treatment from prayer camps, herbalist, and pharmacies or not  at all. Because of this attitude they do not get any medical care.  Those who are on the Antiretroviral drugs give up when the conditions  improves. This has made it difficult to bring together the PLWHA’s for  support

The project will train 20 Community Counselors and Care Givers to  provide counseling and Home Based Care (HBC) for those who are Living  With and Affected by HIV/AIDS. The introduction of the Home Based Care  will also reduce isolation from family members and friends and help  those infected to live positively With the virus.

Through the Care and Support, the project will bring PLWHA together  as a support group. The project will help PLWHA’s to seek proper  medical care for Opportunistic Infections (OI), disclose status to  family members, Advocate for their rights, seek proper health care to  prevent MTCT and to reduce stigma and self reliance. The project will  also seek active involvement and participation of PLWHA in prevention  outreach programmes.

The Care and  Support for People Living With HIV/AIDS provides positive and enabling  environment for PLWH’s.

INCOME GENERATION ACTIVITY FOR PLWHA’s

The Care and support will provide a sustainable livelihood and  Income Generating for PLWHA and those Affected by introducing them to  poultry farming. egg production has been chosen as an income  generating activity under this project because it very easy to maintain and give rapid result. It also serves as a source of  nutrients for those infected  family and the community as a whole.  The market for egg is also ever-ready.  The PLWHA’s will be given  training of egg production and basic equipment to start with.  They will be grouped into three  and each groups will be given  basic equipment like poultry structures, watering-can and 500g feeds i.e 5 bags.