AIDS ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN PROJECT
AT CLARE NSENGA FOUNDATION
HEALTH CENTRE

Background

In July 2007, a program to identify and assist AIDS orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) in Kisolo District, in southwestern Uganda, was initiated with financial support through the Asylum Hill Congregational Church. The project was designed by Dr. Dieckhaus with input from members of Community Medicine department at UConn Health Centre, Farmington Connecticut, the Clare Nsenga Foundation based in Colchester, Connecticut, and local stake-holders in Kisoro, Uganda. The project was expanded upon previously-established programs of the Clare Nsenga in Kisoro District and addresses the complex issues of “AIDS, Orphans, and Africa” that exist in the district.

Mission Statement

The mission of the AIDS Orphans and Vulnerable Children Project in Kisoro District, Uganda is to improve the health, education and life potential for the children affected by HIV/AIDS.

Priorities for Assisting AIDS Orphans and Vulnerable Children

In 2003, the Ugandan Ministry of Health published a study evaluating the impact of orphans on Ugandan Communities. Priorities of the national strategic program included:

1) Improving the socio-economic security of households in which orphans and other vulnerable children live;

2) Investing in the improved education of orphans and other vulnerable children, not only at the primary level but through to at least the secondary level; and,

3) Ensuring the health and psychosocial well-being of not only of the orphans and other vulnerable children, but also of their primary caregivers who are their surviving mothers and, increasingly, elderly grandmothers.

The project was conceived using the process of the Community Oriented Primary Care (COPC) model. COPC is an approach by which a community itself defines and develops the health care programs to specifically address the needs of its service population. In accordance with this model of development, the following four basic steps were pursued to meet these stated needs:
1. Define; Define the number and characterize AIDS Orphans and Vulnerable children in the community.
2. Assess: Identify issues affecting AIDS Orphans and Vulnerable Children
3. Review and Develop: Review findings in collaboration with the community to develop and implement appropriate programs
4. Evaluate: Continually monitor the impact of the programs