In November 2008 the building of the OMOANA Centre was terminated. A great deal of effort, a lot of funds raised in Switzerland, the help of several people and a positive collaboration with St Francis Health Care Services, our local partner, allowed us to ensure the creation of this place. The first results have been encouraging. The health of the first children welcomed is progressing daily. Their new living conditions have encouraged them to look to the future with serenity. The building is able to house up to 25 children.

Aims of the project

– ensure the medical and nutritional care of HIV positive children

– provide an appropriate caring and educational environment

– assure the smooth running of the welcoming centre

– favourise the children's reintegration into the community

Partner for the project: St Francis Health Care Services

At the outset St Francis Health Care Services was a centre for people living with HIV. Today it caters for the whole population. Apart from the aid brought at the centre St Fancis' offers home care for those too weak or too poor to travel. Alongside the health care there are “Advisers” who offer patients psychological help so that people suffering from AIDS can better come to terms with the illness and continue life as positively as possible. In the organization there are doctors, nurses, a nutritionist, a laboratory and an administrator to co-ordinate the communities' various activities. St Francis Health Care Services has also launched an awareness campaign helped by 120 volunteers. Currently, 4,500 people and 1,500 orphans are being helped by this scheme. OMOANA decided to create its centre with this partner as it has the necessary skills to manage it.

The beneficiaries

There are, currently, 2.2 million orphans in Uganda. These orphans are very often left with their grandparents or sick parents who are very weak and are not able to provide the care and attention the children need. In 2006, according to a report from UNAIDS there were 110,000 HIV posistive children in Uganda. 111,495 had already died by the end of 2002.

Means

The children are cared for by a nurse and a mama, aided by a medical team and the advisers from St Francis Health Care Services. They receive specialized care (medical and nutritional). As soon as their condition has been stabilized they return into their communities where the nurse or a social worker keep track of their evolution. Their long term schooling is funded by OMOANA.