Without a strong social support system, antiretroviral therapy cannot succeed. It is on this basis that the psychosocial unit at Baylor-Uganda was set up. Its primary responsibility is to ensure that social factors affecting clients do not undermine the successes of ART. The unit exists therefore to identify, link, support and retain children and adolescents in care. Over the last one year, we have registered remarkable success although challenges still abound.
Support to Clients
Each month, the unit receives an average of two cases with social problems such as child neglect, abandonment, lack of basic needs, poor adherence and disclosure. Marital problems and children with special needs have also been common. Since July 2008, more than 10,000 children and adolescents have been counseled at Baylor –Uganda supported facilities. Two educational camps (Sanyuka and Power of Hope) have been held. Campers shared experiences and advise on how to manage life with HIV. They also acquired various skills in art and crafts. Twenty four peer support and three caregivers’ meetings were held throughout this reporting period. Eight clients have been resettled with their relatives and families. Four broken marriages were restored through our interventions. A lost child was also reunited with his family.
Linkages for Clients
We have established working relationships with child focused organizations to support the children with special needs education, disability and psychological problems. Organisations like Steven Jota, A-Z Children’s charity, Noah’s Ark, Uganda Children’s Center, AIDCHILD, Missionaries of the Poor and Cherish Uganda Entebbe road have helped support some of the children in need.
Three children have been resettled in orphanages and one has been linked to specialized counseling and is registering success. In addition ten children have been linked for primary education scholarships and five for vocational skills training.
Counseling services
We continued to provide the much needed pre-test and post-test counseling sessions for both individuals and families. In addition to this, ongoing counseling sessions were held for all clients during their scheduled visits. A lot of emphasis is put on adherence counseling.
Identification of HIV Infected Children
The identification of HIV infected children and their family members is one of the core activities of the psychosocial unit. This is mainly done through targeted Voluntary Counseling and Testing campaigns; HIV screening in orphanages and child centers and “know your child’s Status campaign (KYCS). The campaigns target children of people already in care.
Between July 2008-and June 09, 310 children and 175 adults were identified and enrolled in care. Through testing outreaches in child focused organizations and orphanages, 1514 children and 668 adults have been tested. Of these, thirty one children and seventy adults have been linked into care and treatment.
Counseling and testing outputs in outreach sites (July 2008-June 2009)
Children |
|||
| Testing Mode | Number |
HIV+ |
Prevalence |
KYCHS |
7636 |
260 |
3.4% |
Outreaches |
8687 |
94 |
1.1% |
VCT |
12732 |
755 |
5.9% |
RCT |
12806 |
680 |
5.3% |
PMTCT program |
2963 |
52 |
1.8% |
Total |
41861 |
1789 |
4.3% |
DBS |
3643 |
136 |
3.7% |
Adults | |||
| Testing Mode | Number |
HIV+ |
Prevalence |
KYCHS |
2960 |
240 |
8.1% |
Outreaches |
18161 |
851 |
4.7% |
VCT |
53332 |
6243 |
11.7% |
RCT |
52871 |
5853 |
11.1% |
PMTCT program |
60242 |
3295 |
5.5% |
Total |
127324 |
13187 |
10.4% |
DBS |
|
|
|
Total | |||
| Testing Mode | Number |
HIV+ |
Prevalence |
KYCHS |
10596 |
500 |
4.7% |
Outreaches |
26848 |
945 |
3.5% |
VCT |
66064 |
6998 |
10.6% |
RCT |
65677 |
6533 |
9.9% |
PMTCT program |
63205 |
3347 |
5.3% |
Total |
169185 |
14976 |
8.9% |
DBS |
3643 |
136 |
3.7% |
What we look forward to;
- The start of a joint project with Child Fund International aimed at improving follow up and support of HIV infected and affected children in Busia, Pader, Masindi and Kitgum.
- Widening our spectrum of referrals for client needs such as disability, special needs education, school fees, nutritional support etc.
- Partnering with organizations that support income generating activities to support clients’ needs.
- Collaborating with more child centered agencies to reach more children in need of HIV Counseling and testing.