Uganda
Situation Report
The Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), a militia led by Joseph Kony, has been terrorizing northern Uganda since 1986. The rebel attacks have driven 1.5 million people from their homes and forced 25,000 children into conscription as child soldiers. The ongoing war has destroyed infrastructure, including the health care system, and left millions without access to critically needed care.
In 2006, the LRA and Ugandan government entered into a series of peace talks, which helped to stabilize the situation. Two years of relative peace have ensued and people are now returning to their homes. However, the needs in the region are still great and security remains fragile.
Our Work
During 2005-08, we continued to implement the emergency health care program that we began in 2004 in Lira, Apac and Pader districts. We've deployed 45 volunteer medical teams to support this program. Our volunteers work alongside local medical staff in the Internally Displaced People (IDP) camps, providing care for patients and training for staff. We also ship humanitarian aid for distribution at the Lira and Pader clinics.
- Emergency Health Care / Preventive Health Program
Since 2004, we've provided direct health care services, community health education and immunizations to nearly 500,000 displaced people in various camps, settlements and clinics in Lira, Apac and Pader districts. Medical Teams International has supported the project with 3 shipments of medical supplies and volunteer medical teams.
In anticipation of continued stabilization in the north, we are transitioning from mobile medical care in Lira and Pader to preventive health teams. Our local Ugandan medical staff will visit various sites and provide specialized services as needed, including HIV and AIDS training and care.
- HIV and AIDS Education and Testing
Medical Teams International has established a youth-friendly HIV and AIDS education and testing center in Ogur, Lira for resettling youth populations. We provide services that prevent HIV infection of at-risk youth through the promotion of healthy behaviors and life skills. We also help increase access to counseling and testing services, treatments and medicines to prevent HIV and AIDS related opportunistic infections.
- Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV
Medical Teams International seeks to extend the scaling up of PMTCT services in the three Lira health sub-districts. With support from UNICEF and in collaboration with the Lira District Health Office, we are strengthening existing PMTCT services in rehabilitated health centers and establishing additional community access points. We also aim to increase community awareness of the importance of knowing one's status and accessing PMTCT services. The project aims to reduce the vertical transmission of HIV by increasing the availability and utilization of core PMTCT services among women of child bearing age and their children.
- Health Center Rehabilitation
Medical Teams International will rehabilitate 2 health centers in order to ease the transition for resettling communities. We will also build latrines for villages that do not have a sanitary way to dispose of human waste.
Read more about our work in northern Uganda »
Future Plans
Medical Teams International will operate 3 major initiatives in northern Uganda this year. We will send 12 - 13 volunteer medical teams to assist with our projects.
Country Office and Our Partners
Medical Teams International is a registered non-governmental organization in Uganda that has established by-laws and a board of directors in-country. Medical Teams International - Uganda has a large office in Lira District and a small satellite office in Pader District. The programs and offices are led by Country Director Felix Omodi who has worked with us since the inception of our projects in 2004. Approximately 30 staff are located in Lira, while another 20 are in Pader; all are Uganda nationals.
Our staff has a strong record of providing high quality and sustainable health services and health education in Lira, Apac, Oyam and Pader Districts. In addition, Medical Teams International - Uganda has established a good working relationship with the local community as well as district health offices, nongovernmental organizations, community health workers and other AIDS care and support organizations.
Funding partners include: The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, OFDA, UNICEF, USAID and private donors.
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