Health Improvement Project, Uganda

Overall goals

A range of health improving projects to meet the needs of the North West Nile Diocese communities in Uganda. They have included setting up :
St Peters Women’s Sewing Project.:- for improving women and children’s lives ( income, skills, and school uniforms)
Rabbit Project for meat and profit to help bonding between fathers and their children while establishing animal husbandry and building skills.
Building work (to establish homes for single mothers)
We support an existing project run by the North West Diocese Wise Choices (Anglican church family planning) encouraging local people to be trained in delivering the sessions to local communities.

Establish sustainable projects that will:
• Support people most in need in the community
• Enable women to earn money for themselves and their families
• To increase confidence in taking up education and improve livelihoods of vulnerable people
• Establishing volunteering, self-help and capacity building

Key UK Colleagues and Partners

Colleagues include :
• Retired Public Health Consultant (Ayrshire) who was a Doctor in Uganda a few years back.
• St Kentigen’s Church members, Kilmarnock,
• St John’s church members Carlisle
• CMS missionaries based in Arua , Uganda
• Husband

International Partners

No international partner, working with local people in Arua, Mayoral assistance.

Sustainable development goals

• SDG 1 - No poverty
• SDG 2 - Zero hunger
• SDG 3 - Good health and well-being
• SDG 4 - Quality education
• SDG 5 - Gender equality

Funding source

Fundraising

Project origin

Retired Doctor /Consultant Public Health (who has worked in Arua for several years previously) and has visited the area over the years to support on a range of other projects. All of the above projects came about through engaging with local people and key stakeholders to determine needs / development. Success to each of the projects was the ability to work together with local communities, build relationships, partnerships and linking into the church committee and mayor’s office.

Evidence of need

The Arua District is in the north of Uganda and is one of the most disadvantaged communities in Uganda. Working with the local community taking an asset-based approach to development and implementation of projects. Local mayoral support was given in a range of ways including transport, media support and reports highlighting local statistics and demographics. We established and worked on all of the projects named above.

Project areas

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Project activities

Sewing project – established for local women in 2013 where equipment, resources, venue and training was made available. Revisited in 2015 to determine progress and established sustainable practices. To revisit in November 2018 to determine progress

Rabbit Pilot Project – 4 families were provided with resources to start rabbit farming, and supported by an Arua based horticulturalist/ agriculturalist (CMS missionary). We plan to go back and determine progress and if it is appropriate to expand.

Luvu School ( in the bush) was given scholastic supplies and funding to build accommodation for teachers Visited in 2013 and again 2015. Plan to discuss the need for establishing the rabbit project at the school as a means for educating good animal husbandry and business acumen.

Visit November 2018:- in addition to the above, we will be required to assess potential support for a rural maternal health facility in Katiyi, which offers midwifery and obstetrics support. The local midwifery services (attached to Anglican Church) have identified this health centre to be struggling with the existing demand and have 50 to 60 deliveries per month with only one delivery bed. Many women end up delivering on the floor or benches. In addition, the UN is planning to open another refugee camp nearby and this health facility in Katiyi will be used as a referral centre thus increasing pressure on an already dire situation. This will require a partnership planning and fund raising.

Changes

Reduction in maternal mortality ( 17 women per day die in childbirth Uganda)
Reduction in underage pregnancies
Reduce poverty for families by providing income) sewing project and rabbit project.
Improve education opportunities for children and also increase business acumen and sustainable initiatives.

Next steps

We plan to go out to Uganda in November and assess each of the projects outlined above.

Challenges

Understanding cultural differences. Being mindful and respectful of culture.
Developing good relationships and trust with local people
Time factor – we had to pack so much into the time we were there and felt we were leaving an unfinished ship each time
Not having appropriate skills for identified needs (an example: - the need for an optician to be available to address sight defects or eye conditions (within the sewing group))

Mitigating challenges

List of potential grant providers / funds. In particular for larger projects where we might have to seek major funding.
Data base to call out for people interested in supporting projects e.g. optician (see above)
NHS support – old equipment that could be utilised.
Annual leave was taken for each time and included unpaid leave. Suggest an allowance for voluntary work which should be subject to evidence

Partnership principles

• strategic
• harmonised
• effective
• respectful
• organised
• responsible
• flexible

Project gains

• leadership
• teamwork
• resilience