MEANING
OF AIDS
The
acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a specific group of diseases
or conditions that indicate severe, immune suppression related to
infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). AIDS is the late
stage of HIV infection, because the immune system has become so weakened
by the HIV infection, it allows the development of cancers such as
kaposi’s sarcoma and opportunistic infections such as tuberculosis,
cryptococcal meningitis, and others which can result in the death of a
person with AIDS .In Uganda, chronic wasting, chronic fever, and chronic
diarrhea are commonly seen and may lead to death of the person with AIDS.
For persons with AIDS, mild diseases frequently turn into fatal ones.
In
Uganda many of these diseases are commonly in persons with out HIV
infection. Thus, it’s very important that patients with possible
tuberculosis, karposi’s sarcoma, chronic diarrhea and wasting and other
infections are referred for HIV testing and counseling.
INCIDENCE
AND PREVALENCE OF HIV/AIDS IN UGANDA.
Incidence
is the rate of new infections or new cases per year. Prevalence is the
level of infection within a community at one point in time.
Ø
An estimated 1.5 millions Ugandans are already infected with HIV, out of
the total population of 19 million. An additional 500,000 have probably
already died of AIDS.
Ø
The prevalence of HIV infection varies considerably by region and
rural/urban location.
Ø
HIV prevalence in Uganda is studied primarily through sentinel
surveillance at selected antenatal clinics and in community cohorts. Thus
much more is known about the level of infection in young women than is
known about the level of infection in Men. In older women who are not
pregnant, and in women who do not go to antenatal clinics little is known.
Ø
It now appears that the level of infection in pregnant women attending
urban and peril-urban antenatal clinics reached peak in mid 90’s a
significant decline in prevalence has been observed and it’s now thought
that incidence rates especially in young women have been reduced
considerably. Less is known however about the incidence and prevalence of
HIV infection in rural women, especially those who do not attend antenatal
clinics and about the incidence and prevalence of HIV infection in men.
MEANING
OF DECLINES OF HIV INFECTIONS IN UGANDA.
It
is important to remember that HIV rates in Uganda remain among the highest
in the world and the recent declines do not give any reason to relax HIV
prevention efforts. Since infection rates remain high many people in
Uganda will continue to develop AIDS in the fore-seeable future.
However,
these declines do not give encouragement that an intensive AIDS prevention
efforts, such as Uganda has developed since early 90’s, can result in
behavioral change and hence reduction in the rate of HIV infection.
GLOBAL
SITUATION REGARDING HIV/AIDS.
Ø
W.H.O estimates that 18.5 million adults and about 1.5 million children
have been infected with HIV since the beginning of the pandemic.
Ø
By the end of the century, W.H.O estimated that between 30-40 million men,
women, children will have been infected with HIV.
Ø
Today WHO believes that 7 million individuals infected with HIV have
developed AIDS, and of these, 5.5 million have died.
Ø
By the end of the century, developing countries accounted for 90% of all
people with HIV infection.
Ø
Sub-Saharan has by far the largest number of people living with HIV
infection. About 12 million.
Ø
HIV is increasingly affecting women, worldwide the cumulative number of
infected women reached 15 million by the year 2000.
Ø
By the year 2000, as many as 5-10 million lost their mothers or both
parents to AIDS.
THE
IMPACT OF AIDS GLOBALLY.
Solely
the number of infected or ill individuals cannot measure the importance of
the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Because AIDS is sexually transmitted infection it
mainly strikes adolescents, young adults, and people in early middle age.
It is the age group on whom
Society
relies to raise families, for agriculture production, and other economic
activities that contribute to the welfare of families, communities and
nations.
Thus
for every person with AIDS, countless more people are affected by the
impact of HIV/AIDS. Hard-won gains in child survival are being erased. In
countries that are not yet industrialized or are in the process, AIDS
threatens development.
IMPACT
OF AIDS IN UGANDA.
AIDS
since it was first identified has posed a variety of not only medical, but
also social and economic problems.
Ø
AGRICULTURAL
PRODUCTION.
Research suggests that the impact of AIDS on the agriculture
systems is very much dependant on the stage of the epidemic in that area.
Ø
Where the epidemic is serious there is a decrease in the area of land
cultivated, in the range of crops planted, and in agricultural production.
There is a change from labor-intensive crops to those, which are not as
labor intensive.
Ø
Some areas of the country are in the early impact or pre-impact stages
when the effects of the epidemic are not yet readily visible. However,
these communities are vulnerable should drought or other disaster occur.
Ø
DEPENDENCY RATIO. With the
growing numbers of children who have lost one or both parents, there is
now a well documented increasing dependency ratio (the rate of the number
of dependant members of society, children and the very sick or elderly, to
the number of people they are dependant on)
Ø
Many elderly Ugandans normally would be dependant to their adult children
are busy caring for their dying adult children or their orphaned grand
children.
Ø
Those members of society with the most productive capability, those
between the ages of 20 and 40, are also the ones with the highest rate s
of illness with AIDS.
Ø
A high dependency ratio in the population results lowered productivity and
the economic, consequences are made worse by a diversion of income from
investment and savings to consumption of health care.
In
little more than a decade, we’ve learned a tremendous amount about
HIV/AIDS. As research and education continue, they can only mean
continuing progress in treatment, counseling, sensitization, prevention,
progress that can save and prolong the lives and give valid reasons for at
least some optimism about the devastating disease.
Identify
and create awareness – together
we can fight this, support us to reach out to the communities.
AROH-UGANDA OBJECTIVES
To reduce the HIV/AIDS prevalence
from the (figures) by 25% with in each Sub county
To increase the number of tested
people in rural areas as a way of preventing the spread of HIV, at least
3/4 of the population of each area of operation tested, in the next five
years.
To increase the life span of HIV
patients
To sustain the community social
structure through treating HIV/AIDS parents and children Welfare
HIV/AIDS To provide accessible
treatment for rural communities. To have ambulance services for quick
transportation and emergency care for referral critical cases, around
villages of operation to the affiliated medical center.
Mobile clinics in rural places to bring health care as close to the
rural communities as possible. Liaise with a community-based
representative in charge of publicity and arrangements. Divided into three
departments (registration, consultation, dispensing, and counseling) we
then treat the mobilized community members.
To give compassion and training for caring for patients with HIV/AIDS.
a. Another health strategy is still working through the community-based
representatives to meet patients in their homes (Home-based care) for
those that are weakened by the virus. This is done on two levels, level
one is the care offered by our staff to those that need this kind of
attention. Two, the training of relatives and friends of people in late
stages of HIV/AIDS on how to give the care that such patients need. To
increase awareness and accessibility to voluntary counseling and testing.
a. This is in two levels. Level one is accessing and specifying needs
through counseling and focusing those with needs to prepared attendants.
b. Two is to screen for HIV/AIDS. Patients with HIV positive status are
given consultation cards for follow up and identification for home based
care and counseling for those that may need it.
c. To provide a listening ear atmosphere in which those who are
traumatized and psychologically tortured can pour out their pain a.
counseling. In counseling the idea is to reaffirm, give hope and provide
an environment for care and listening to the problems and challenges of
the clients.
d. To reduce and or stop the spread of HIV virus through awareness and
interactive forums for rural communities and students. a. Work with school
heads in mobilizing schools' and institution students and staff for mass
open sensitization sessions and after which the question and answer
session.
e. Compiling a question and answer book for distribution to schools and
institutions.
i. Organize\community representatives to mobilize a given local
community in our area of operation then run an open session of awareness
followed by question and answer.
Please
help us as we continue to respond to the ever-changing needs of people
affected& infected with the HIV/AIDS in our community a gift is needed
and greatly appreciated.
“I
have showed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the
weak, and to remember the words of our
lord Jesus, how he said, it
is more blessed to give than to receive acts 20: 35.
Community
HIV/AIDS outreach.
·
Tackle/handle stigmatization of the victims.
·
Mitigate the health and social -economic impact of HIV/AIDS at individual,
household and community level.
·
Effective home visitation for witnessing &counseling.
·
Strengthen the communities to respond to HIV/AIDS epidemic.
·
Set up youth recreational facilities at village community centers.
·
Reduce the further spread of HIV infection.
·
Mobilization for and provision of voluntary counseling and testing
services.
·
Open-air sensitization meetings and debates.
·
Produce information on the dangers of S.T.D's and prevention.
·
Support and supervision of activities of communities in collaboration with
partner C.B.O's.
·
Training volunteer counselors.
·
Literature distribution.
10.2
School outreach missions.
·
Plan schools HIV/AIDS programmers.
·
Education and communication activities like music dance and aimed at
HIV/AIDS prevention programmes.
·
Training school students to go out as volunteers for HIV/AIDS.
·
Showing films related to HIV/AIDS prevention in order to strengthen
awareness
Health
education session (HIV/AIDS awareness, S.T.D's ).
