Mbarara District in Uganda has been pointed out as one of the HIV/AIDS- endemic region in the country. Statistics shared in January 2021 by The Monitor Uganda, revealed that the current infection rate stands at 6.1% with the number of infected females at 6.8% compared to males who are at 3.9%. The research attributed this trend to the high numbers of bars and lodges frequented by sex workers who receive high traffic of trans-boundary travelers especially truck drivers’ en route to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Burundi.
Global Peace Women believes that women play a crucial role in influencing their family culture as well as establishing healthy and resilient families. At GPW, we seek to uplift women’s self-respect, confidence and love by empowering them through training and capacity building programs. We share messages of hope and support women-led initiatives that create a positive impact in the world through the Global Women’s Dream Grant, a joint initiative with Service for Peace Korea.
In the period between May and September 2022, Global Peace Women in partnership with Mbarara District Local Government and Community Development officers from Katete Ward, Nyamitiga Division empowered 20 girls and young women aged between 15-25 years with information to enable them prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. The initiative was led by Jalia Muntu, a GPWLA Graduate upon receipt of the GWD grant in March 2022. The training also addressed the impacts of HIV/AIDS on rural girls, women and orphans in the community.
The participants engaged in a series of activities that educated them on the topic and equipped them with crucial skills to improve their livelihoods. The project team sensitized the participants on the importance of getting tested with a view to preventing new infections. They also encouraged the participants to take appropriate action to know their status by linking them to Health Centers in the community for HIV/AIDS testing and counseling by experts from district HQs and TASA-UGANDA.
“We composed songs and poems on HIV/AIDS to help participants explore diverse ways of also pass the message to their peers post the project,” she said about the girls who were empowered to become ambassadors of HIV/AIDS prevention in their community and the nation.
In addition, the project sought to address the social-economic factors that facilitate the spread of HIV/AIDS among women in the community. Poverty was pointed out as a key contributing factor and thus the project trained the participants on Household Economic Strengthening activities such as making hand sanitizers and re-usable sanitary pads. In addition, the participants learnt how to make bar soaps.
The participants were grateful to GPW for the learning and empowerment opportunity.
“People with HIV/AIDS are nothing to be afraid of, they are people just like every single one of us and each of us has a story to tell,” shared Namara Christine who was a participant.
“It is bad enough that people are dying of AIDS, but no one should die of ignorance,” said Huziri Sekaita, who was a volunteer.
The post project survey revealed that 80% of the participants were able to differentiate HIV and AIDS, know the causes, preventive measures and positive living as compared to the 40% result recorded in the pre survey. Thanking GPW for the support in shining hope through education and empowerment for the vulnerable in her community, Jalia added;
“Only the light of knowledge about HIV/AIDS can rid us from the darkness of fear, misconception and pain.”