By Nakanwagi Olivier Mukaaya
MBALE
UWESO has this week donated 300 boxes of food stuff to ICYD supported non-suppressed children living with HIV in the Eastern region.
This temporary relief is to enable the beneficiaries adhere better to their HIV treatment and be able to achieve viral suppression which is one of the major outcomes of the UNAIDS 95:95:95 goal.
Under the ICYD Activity, UWESO has reached 18,605 beneficiaries of whom 2,557(14%) are Children living with HIV, 1,880(10%) HIV Exposed Infants (HEI), 1,568 (8%) Children of female Sex workers (CFSWs), 789(4%) Teenage/Child Mothers and 3,146(17%) are children of HIV positive caregivers.
According to the Findings from the ICYD, Year 1 annual review indicated that out of the 2,557 CLHIV served by UWESO, 225 (9%) especially from destitute households were still struggling to achieve HIV Viral suppression due to various factors.
A further analysis showed that 49% of these children presented nutritional deficiency as the major cause of their non-adherence to ART treatment. This was partly attributed to insufficient food at household level. The worst scenario was Kotido at over 50%. To respond to this need,
Mr. Saad Luyinda, the programs manager integrated child and youth development Acitvity (ICYD) says that the distribution of the food relief will be done in the districts of Busia, Mbale, Kotido and Tororo and about 225 children living HIV positive will be the beneficiaries.
He adds that the relief items are aimed at enabling them to adhere better to their HIV treatment being that most children living with HIV have been finding it difficult to take their medicines because of lack of food at home.
“We have targeted children mostly who have failed to suppress the viral load due to lack of food in homes,” he said.
He further says that this contribution is part of the 1000 food boxes received as donation from the “100 Million Meals” Campaign initiated by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Maktoum, the Prime Minister of UAE in partnership with the Food banking Regional network, facilitated by Haba Na Haba, a member of the Food banking regional network that is coordinating the food distribution in Uganda in collaboration with the UAE embassy in Kampala.
“The food relief cos 27,600,000 million and each food box contained 5kg of maize flour, 5kg of beans, 5kg of rice, 2kg of sugar, 1pkt of wheat flour of 2kg, 2 pkts of salt, 4 pkts of macaroni, 1 litre of cooking oil and 3Ltrs of Classic milk”
Ms Sarah Nambozo mother of a child living with HIV and a resident of Bungonko Bubilabi village in Mbale district said that her son has been finding it difficult to take his medicines because there has been no enough food at home which could encourage him to take his drugs.
“ My son has been refusing to take his drugs because we have not been having what to eat at home, sometimes he has been telling me that whenever he takes his drugs without eating he feels so bad and that has been affecting me a lot,” she said.
However, Meresi Mutonyi ,the District Community Development Officer Mbale district who launched the food relief item project to 300 beneficences, said that (ICYD) under UWESO program has continued supporting children living with HIV and their care givers within Mbale district.
“Am hoping that these food supplements will enable children to take their medicines so that they suppress the viral load in line with the 95 95 95rule.”She says.
UWESO is a Primary Local Partner implementing the USAID Integrated Child and Youth Development (ICYD) Activity in North Eastern Uganda covering six districts of Busia, Tororo, Mbale and Kotido, Soroti and Katakwi.
The ICYD Activity is funded by USAID and aims to ensure that children and youth, especially the most vulnerable, receive the support and services necessary to lead resilient, healthy, and productive lives.
The key objectives include: a) Children and youth have improved learning outcomes b) Children and youth are protected, safe, and healthy in their homes, communities learning environments c) Youth practice positive behaviors and make informed decisions about their lives and Relationships.
