NEW CLINIC OPENS IN KITGUM WITH 21 BED MEDICALCENTRE

The ACET office in Kitgum is now the centre for HIV/AIDS education work in Northern Uganda, and has just opened a clinic and a 21 bed medical care centre with generous funding from Hope HIV. The World Food Programme, Christian Aid and UNICEF have all asked ACET to do even more work in the camps. In March 2003 there were 500,000 living in IDPs, now the official figure is 920,000 - all packed into very small areas. The needs are huge with very limited medical and social support.

Conditions are tough for families in camps

The Director, David Kabiswa, attended the official opening of the Children's Ward in Palabek Gem Camp. It was a big day and a big occasion. The event was graced by the Minister of State for Education and Sports, the President's Representative, known as a Resident District Commissioner, and the lead politician of the District the LC 5 chairman. Military escorts were needed as the area is still very unstable and attacks on the team are a constant threat.

AIDS threat in Uganda responding to Campaigns

David Kabiswa reports from Uganda that teenage infection rates are continuing to fall, indicating sustained change in sexual behaviour. But there’s no room for complacency with a new generation sexually mature every year, who need to be kept safe from HIV. David’s team is involved in schools prevention, training community workers, encouraging church leaders, equipping those in other NGOs, working in partnership with Tear Fund, Christian AID, Action Aid and Hope HIV. They are also supporting income generating projects for orphans and community-based schools.

Projects don’t have to be big to be effective and some of the team’s greatest success stories have been encouraging people with very few resources to use what they have to make a real difference, saving lives of young people, and giving compassionate practical help to those who are sick or bereaved.

ACET Uganda is working hard to reach people with little access to health information in the troubled Northern areas, especially in displacement camps. History shows that wherever there is armed conflict, HIV spreads fast. The Uganda team have a reputation for going where many other agencies are less keen, often at significant risk to themselves.

Now a major partnership with HOPE HIV and other supporters has enabled ACET Uganda to extend work in the displacement camps, providing clinics and other support to communities in crisis.

Emergency Programmes in Kitgum and Mbale.

ACET Uganda has entered a partnership with UNICEF to conduct some emergency HIV/AIDS education programmes in the North and Eastern Districts of Uganda , that still have Internally Displaced People’s Camps (IDPCs).

ACET Kitgum is helping to tackle issues of Children at Risk. The programme will focus on children who stay in shelters (Night Commuters) so as to get away from the threat of being abducted. Many children have been taken away into the bush where they have been abused and brutalised by armed gangs, often being recruited against their will to do similar things to others.

All programmes have the aim of passing on of skills to avert a long term crisis among populations that have been made very vulnerable by the insecure situation, in addition to all the problems caused by HIV and AIDS.

Action in the poorest areas of Kampala

Alex Blake, from ACET Jersey, through winning a BBC competition, has been able to get the plight of Nakulabye Junior School on the BBC Website.

Children in Nakulabye area of Kampala

Porridge being provided to children at the school

Money from the Friends of ACET Uganda has helped change the lives of students/pupils in Nakulabye Junior School, in one of the poorest parts of Kampala. As the headmaster, Mr Moses Zzimbe said in an appreciation letter to Robert Mortimer (co-ordinator Friends of ACET Uganda].. “We now know that we are not alone” There is a lot of hope (morale) in the schoolteachers and others because of this partnership.

FIGHTING AIDS IN OTHER PARTS OF AFRICA:

David Kabiswa and Paul Kato are also investing into places like Burundi and Southern Sudan, both suffering from instability and daily low-level battles. “If we don’t go, then who will?” says David. “ The churches in these areas need our encouragement to make an effective response and they can feel very isolated.” ACET Uganda is also working closely with projects in Ethiopia, Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, Zambia, Burkino Faso, Malawi and Botswana.

David and Paul provide technical consultancy and support to a wide range of projects and organisations in the region, where up to 3 out of 10 men and women are already HIV-infected in some areas.

ACET Uganda, PO Box 9710, Kampala, Uganda Tel. +44 256 412 267826. Fax. +44 256 412 267836. Contact: David Kabiswa or Paul Kabunga kabunga.paul@acetug.org ACET Uganda website

Country Facts Maps and country  facts from: CIA World  Factbook 1999

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