HIV Prevention and Treatment that Targets Youth in Uganda

Photo by: Margaret Aguirre

The simple but powerful message is part of IMC's HIV prevention and education program that targets young people in a refugee settlement in southwest Uganda.

The Kyaka II refugee settlement in southwest Uganda is home to more than 17,000 refugees, primarily from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Burundi, as well as from Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Central African Republic, and Malawi. International Medical Corps has been working comprehensively toward reducing HIV/AIDS incidence and prevalence in this camp since 2006. And with over half (58 percent) of the population younger than 18, IMC has targeted youth in its HIV prevention programs.

To increase community awareness, IMC has initiated door-to-door visits and impromptu discussions between community educators and community members. IMC also held an essay-writing competition to assess children’s knowledge and skills on HIV/AIDS and prevention of the disease. This creative exercise gave IMC insight on the myths and misconceptions among the youth, and identified their existing knowledge about HIV. In addition, IMC sponsored music, dance and drama shows for in-school and out-of-school youth, thereby providing another avenue for them to learn about the disease.

International Medical Corps also has increased access to voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) in this community. IMC instituted 10 community service outlets and one facility-based outlet for VCT, in addition to running a mobile VCT clinic in the nine zones of the settlement and in one of the zones for the host population. Almost 3,000 individuals have been counseled, tested, and have received results on their HIV status. In addition, IMC has trained health workers, community workers and community educators to carry out the HIV counseling and testing, thereby enhancing the capacity of the local health care workforce.

Photo by: Margaret Aguirre

Caption:Young people comprise nearly 60 percent of the population in this refugee settlement in southwest Uganda. So IMC is targeting HIV prevention and education programs at youth.

Another component of IMC’s comprehensive strategy is preventing mother to child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV. To achieve this goal, IMC has strengthened the capacity of the existing health center, Bujubuli Health Center III, to integrate PMTCT service delivery into the existing antenatal and post-natal care. IMC trained existing health staff on VCT and drug provision, and provided information for staff to disseminate about antiretroviral (ARV) prophylaxis and treatment; infant and young feeding practices; and HIV testing for babies of HIV-positive mothers. Due to the high number of at-home deliveries, IMC also trained Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) on referring expectant mothers to the clinic for HIV testing, where HIV-positive women who cannot give birth at the health facility are given ARV medications.
In addition, International Medical Corps strives to provide care to orphans and vulnerable children. IMC purchased scholastic materials such as books, pens, and pencils, and distributed them to more than 700 orphans in schools. IMC established demonstration gardens with different crops including tomatoes, cabbages, and onions, and more than 2,000 of these children received seeds and agricultural equipment from IMC. Caregivers of these children were also trained on ways to improve the quality of care and support they provide.

Finally, IMC increased access to basic health care and support for HIV/AIDS patients through establishing a palliative care service outlet, and another center for providing prophylaxis and treatment of tuberculosis to HIV-positive individuals. IMC also trained health workers to provide HIV palliative care and clinical prophylaxis and/or treatment for tuberculosis to HIV-infected individuals.