Charles Kawuma recognises how impactful the community-led approach has been on rallying both the community and healthcare workers around addressing paediatric HIV. Charles highlights that youth voices and mothers living with HIV have been elevated and the gaps in care between community and health centres reduced. He works as a health educator and HIV focal person in Mubende District, Uganda and is involved in the Towards an AIDS Free Generation in Uganda programme.
“The youth voices in HIV are now more noticeable. It has helped us know the issues faced by the youth and what to address. For example, we no longer work through generalised services and use more youth-friendly services. Using the youth peer educators supported by PATA (a Breakthrough project partner) has helped us with awareness raising to reach more young people than ever before. We have realised a closer connection between our health centres and the communities which has improved client tracing, referral and ultimately treatment outcomes. Much as we persistently have few health workers, these trained youths and community structures help with mobilisation and basic health education to reach fellow young people and other targeted groups such as mothers, caretakers, and exposed infants”.
He recognises that using multiple pathways in the community, at the health centre, and ensuring that the various community workers are well trained and linked together is crucial for paediatric HIV prevention and care.
“Moving forward, we are sure we can sustain a number of efforts started because of the technical capacity built within our health officers. I have observed a culture of ownership built within our community health workers, the youths, and health officers which will keep the changes alive.”
Community Breakthroughs Storybook
Charles Kawuma’s and many more inspiring voices on community-led interventions supported by Aidsfonds and our partners aimed at ending paediatric HIV in some of the worst affected areas in Uganda, have been captured in an comprehensive storybook. This Community Breakthroughs – Community-led Interventions for an AIDS Free Uganda Storybook is available for download.
The Paediatric HIV Breakthrough Partnership is an ambitious initiative committed to ending paediatric HIV in regions most urgent. It aims to strengthen collaboration between community, health facilities, government, health care providers and civil society, placing communities at the heart of the response. Aidsfonds, together with the Elisabeth Glaser Pediatric Foundation, PATA and UNICEF, collaborates in this partnership which was initiated and funded by ViiV Healthcare Positive Action.
Communities
Adolescent girls and young women, Children
Strong Political Commitment to Global Health and SRHR
Strong Political Commitment to Global Health and SRHR
On 20 April, the multi‑party initiative (MPI) for global health and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) was officially re-launched. During the event at Nieuwspoort, Members of Parliament, civil society organisations and experts discussed the importance of strong Dutch leadership on these themes. New research was also presented, highlighting the significant impact of Dutch investments in global health and SRHR. The launch marked an inspiring and promising start to this collaborative initiative.
The EU Steps Up for Global Health in Uncertain Times
The EU Steps Up for Global Health in Uncertain Times
Today, the European Commission announced its intention to pledge a total of €700 million overall for the 8th Global Fund’s replenishment, subject to the outcome of the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework negotiations.
At a time when budgets are under strain, priorities are competing, and the world feels increasingly unstable, stepping up for people affected by HIV, TB and malaria around the world is very welcome and a clear sign of the EU’s ambition to lead on global health. This commitment will help save millions of lives and keep everyone safer, including in Europe. It will support Africa’s ability to lead on its own health priorities, and build resilience in places under severe stress. This includes countries affected by war, such as Ukraine, where the continuity of HIV and TB services is critical not only for emergency response, but also for long-term recovery. With many donors cutting back on aid, the Commission’s renewed support for the Global Fund sends a much-needed signal of leadership and solidarity.
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