Month: February 2022

HIV/AIDS and poverty have strong bi-directional connections in resource-poor settings. The HIV/AIDS epidemic is both a manifestation of poverty conditions, taking hold where livelihoods are unsustainable, and the result of the epidemic’s overwhelming impact on social and economic conditions. HIV/AIDS is both a cause and an outcome of poverty, and poverty is both a cause and an outcome of HIV/AIDS.

HIV/AIDS and poverty move hand in hand here in Uganda and Africa. Where there is poverty there is HIV and where there are HIV/AIDS poverty lives.

DEFINITIONS

HIV in full is Human Immunodeficiency Virus. This is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. HIV leads to AIDS. Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome is AIDS in full.

Amartya Sen defines poverty as a failure to achieve certain minimum capabilities and according to him, the lack of capabilities is absolute. There are two types of poverty namely; Absolute and relative poverty.

Absolute poverty is defined as a condition characterized by severe deprivation of basic human needs. Including food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, health, shelter, education, and information. It depends not only on income but also on access to social services. However, capabilities are fixed over time or in societies.

NUMBERS

In Uganda, 41% of people live in poverty, and almost have of Uganda’s population is under the age of the youngest population in the world. Uganda hosts a number the largest refugee population in Africa.

At this time, about 1.5 million Ugandans have HIV infection. About 10% acquired HIV infection via the mother-child transmission route and studies show that the rate reached 26%. 400,000- 450,000 Uganda have died from HIV/AIDS. And many get HIV from heterosexual transmission.

• Up to 20% of the continent’s population is disabled, including half of its children.
• Malnutrition challenges are causing an ever-increasing number of children to grow up stunted.
• HIV/AIDS leaves children orphaned and in charge of their households at very young ages. According to estimates, there are 32 million orphans in Africa.

In its most extreme form, poverty is destitution. The struggle to survive without necessities like food, water, and shelter. This is the reality for almost half of the population of sub-Saharan Africa. Without the most basic needs met, African children cannot imagine a way out of poverty – and the cycle continues.

Sustainable Development Goals

In the sustainable development goals, the issue of poverty is talked about as followers.

• First No Poverty, end poverty in all its forms everywhere.
• Second Zero Hunger, end hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.
• Third Good Health and Well-being, ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

How does HIV/AIDS lead to poverty?

Working-age adults in poverty are left impoverished when they become ill and need treatment. And care due to the loss of income when the earners can no longer work and the increase in expenses due to medical expenses.

Labor force losses are a significant factor in slowing the pace of economic growth at the national level as a result of the epidemic. . Locking some populations, especially in the poorest and least developed countries, into poverty and making them more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS.

HIV-affected households face multiple disadvantages when it comes to school access for children. Several factors may lead to children leaving school early. If a household experiences catastrophic medical expenses or loses income, school fees become too expensive. This forces the child to take on domestic or agricultural duties. They have to take care of the sick adults. To replace lost income, the child enters the labor market prematurely. Even to be the sole breadwinner and head of a household of orphans.

Where we come in.

Focusing on reaching out to people prone to HIV/AIDs and poverty.  Volunteering in Uganda trails to reach out. This is through counseling and guidance and encouraging all people to go for HIV testing to know their status.

VIU takes in orphans at the orphanage where we provide them with the basic needs of life. For those in extreme poverty, we lay a hand to them by providing monthly basic needs in our external program.

It won’t be possible to eradicate poverty through anti-poverty programs alone, but rather through democratic participation. And restructuring of economic structures that ensure access to resources, opportunities, and public services for all.

Volunteer with Us in our programs, for example, the Education program, orphanage program, and health program.

Sponsor a child at LUF by following the link https://loveugandafoundation.org/sponsor-a-child-in-uganda/

Donate to us to help those affected with HIV/AIDS and poverty through the link https://www.stewardship.org.uk/partners/20224362

#wearevolunteeringinUganda.

Every child has a right everywhere in the world. Every country’s constitution in the world has children’s rights listed. The Constitution of the Republic of Uganda defines a child as one below the age of eighteen years. So is it with the National Union of the convention on the Rights of Children? Love Uganda Foundation aims at protecting the rights and well-being of children in everything it does.

The Constitution of the Republic of Uganda recognizes the rights of the child. And provides for children’s right to health, right to education, and right to protection from exploitation.  Therefore the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda in chapter 4 section 34  has children’s rights listed.  Furthermore, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of children highlights that children need special care and protection including appropriate legal protection before as well as after birth.

The Declaration of Rights of Children lays down ten principles:

1. The right to equality, without distinction on account of race, religion, or national origin.
2. The right to special protection for the child’s physical, mental and social development.
3.  Right to a name and nationality.
4. Child’s right to adequate nutrition, housing, and medical services.
5. The right to special education and treatment when a child is physically or mentally handicapped.
6. The right to understanding and love by parents and society.
7. Right to recreational activities and free education.
8. The right to be among the first to receive relief in all circumstances.
9. Right to protection against all forms of neglect, cruelty, and exploitation.
10.  In a spirit of understanding, tolerance, friendship among peoples, and universal brotherhood is a right.

Rights in Uganda.

In the same way, the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda observes the same laws that govern children’s rights.

Love Uganda Foundation promotes child rights

First, Subject to laws enacted in their best interests, children shall have the right to know. And their parents or those entitled by law to bring them up should care for them. Love Uganda Foundation puts this right at work by becoming parents to the orphans and vulnerable children. We care about them and make them feel like they are with their parents hence promoting their rights.

Education is a right

Secondly,

The responsibility of the State and the parents of the child is to see that they have basic education. Love Uganda Foundation under its campaign “Keep an Orphan in School”. This focuses on making sure that every orphan has access to quality education. This is made possible through donations and sponsorships of orphans.

A child’s health is our priority

Thirdly, Reasons of religion or other beliefs shall not deprive children of medical treatment, education, or any other social or economic benefit. Love Uganda Foundation orphanage provides medical care to all orphans.  Our children go to church on Sunday and have bible studies, music, dance, and drama.

child labor

Furthermore,

children are entitled to be protected from social and economic exploitation and shall not be employed in jobs that are dangerous or that interfere with their education. Or adversely impact their health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral, or social development.  Love Uganda Foundation does not support child labor.  So many orphans join the labor market because there is no one to take care of them except themselves. This is where LUF comes in to help these orphans and vulnerable children. By providing them with a home and other basic needs in life.

Then, for clause (4) of this article, children shall be persons under the age of sixteen years. Love Uganda Foundation takes care of orphans and vulnerable children as young as 1 year at the orphanage home.

A child offender who is kept in lawful custody or detention shall be kept separately from adult offenders. Furthermore, LUF’s advocate that children’s cells should be used. This is to prevent them from learning other vises that are not of their age.

Lastly, the law shall accord special protection to orphans and other vulnerable children. LUF follows everything that is written in the National Orphans and Other Vulnerable children policy under the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development. This makes it easy for us to implement and care for orphans and vulnerable children.

In brief,

LUF calls upon everyone in your status to join us in creating awareness. And promoting child rights in our communities and country at large. You can join us by sponsoring a child so that she/he can attend school. Donations also do help for example scholastic materials, clothes, and any other thing.

The 4^th of February is World Cancer Day all over the world. The theme this year is “Close the Care Gap”. It is aimed at raising awareness of the equity gap that affects almost everyone, in high as well as low and middle-income countries and is costing lives. It is led by the Union for International Cancer Control (ULCC). Certainly, it is aimed to raise awareness, improve education g personal catalyzing, collective and government action.

ABOUT CANCER

Cancer refers to a disease in which some of the body’s cells grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body. Cancer can begin from anywhere in the human body which is made up of trillions of cells.

There are several types of cancer around the world that develop in people. Additionally, the types of cancer are named for the organs where the cancers form. For example, lung cancer starts in the lungs, and brain cancer starts in the brain.

According to the World Health Organization, says that cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020. As a consequence of tobacco use, high body mass index, alcohol consumption, low fruit, and vegetable intake, and lack of physical activity.

NEW CASES OF CANCER.

First breast cancer 2.26million cases

Second lung cancer 2.21 million cases

Third colon and rectum cancer 1.98 million cases

Fourth is prostate cancer 1.41 million

Followed by skin cancer (non-melanoma) 1.20 million cases

And lastly, stomach cancer were1.09 cases.

The most common causes of cancer deaths in 2020 were

• Lung cancer 1.80 million deaths
• Colon and rectum 916 000 deaths
• Liver cancer 830,000 deaths
• Stomach 769,000 deaths
• And lastly breast cancer 685,000 deaths

The Close the Care Gap theme of 2022 is a three-year campaign for impact. This will go on from 2022 to 2024.

IN 2022 IT IS ALL ABOUT REALIZING THE PROBLEM

This first year of the “Close the Care Gap” is about understanding and recognizing the inequities in cancer care around the globe. We have to open up our minds, look for the hard facts and the challenging conventions.

Some of the hard facts that those who have cancer and those who treat them.

The inequity in cancer care costs lives in a way that is visible and invisible. So many people die because the costs for treatment are high, the hospitals don’t have doctors or health workers that are meant to work on those affected.

Factors of income, education, location, and discrimination based on ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, and lifestyle negatively affect care

This is the year to help reduce the stigma and provide a listing ear to the perspectives of the people living with cancer and their communities and let those surviving involvements guide our thoughts and actions. Having a world of healthier people and better access to health and cancer services in the future, no matter where they are born, grow, age, work, or live.

CALL FOR ACTION

It doesn’t matter how big or how small your contribution is. Taking action together will make a significant difference in reducing cancer’s global impact. Young and old, rich and poor, black and white, male and female, trans and non-binary, east and west, followers, leaders, believers, and non-believers. There are far more things that unite us than divide us. Therefore, let’s agree that to close the gap in cancer care, we need to make the world aware that it exists.

Love Uganda Foundation today joins the world to celebrate World Cancer day under the theme “Close the Care Gap”. We come together in raising awareness and educate people on the causes of cancer and its effects on day-to-day living. We stand together today to show support to the fighters, admiring the survivors and honoring the taken.

The sad thing is that we more often hear this word these days and the good thing is that we will end it one day.