HIV is still a major epidemic in Uganda with about 1.1 million people infected in the country and 1.3 million people expected to get the infection by in 2012. If this trend continues, then the number of new cases, number of people leaving with HIV and AIDS and those who need antiretroviral therapy (ART) is will increase.
IRCU has been offering HIV/AIDS services since 2005. IRCU scaled up its palliative care and ART services in 2006 following a grant from PEPFAR through USAID.
The objectives of the care and treatment program are:
1 To expand access to and utilization of quality palliative care services for persons affected and infected
with HIV/AIDS and their families.
2 To expand access to and utilization of ART services for eligible People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWAs).
3 To develop functional health and HIV/AIDS networks that support individuals and communities to easily
access quality HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment services.
The activities aimed at expanding access to and utilization of quality palliative care services for persons infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS and their families and expanding access to and utilization of ART services for eligible people living with HIV/AIDS.
IRCU currently supports 20 faith based organizations (17 health facilities and 3 purely community based). Thirteen of these health facilities offer ART with support from IRCU. These sites are spread across the country.
In its support compliments the Ministry of Health efforts towards universal access to care and support of people living with and those affected by HIV/AIDS.
Services offered at these sites ranges from HCT, clinical to non-clinical care and support. By the end of the FY 2008, IRCU supported sites had provided HCT services to al least 111,155 individuals mainly mobilized by religious leaders, community volunteers and post test clubs. A total of 45,074 (16,368 and 28,706 female) clients received palliative care services which included TB diagnosis and treatment, ITNs for malaria prophylaxis, preventive care package and continuous counseling (spiritual, psychosocial etc). 3,652 (1,402 male and 2,250 female) clients have been supported with ART.
IRCU-supported sites are:
Name of IP |
District |
Services offered |
AIDS Orphan Education Trust (AOET) |
Jinja |
Palliative Care |
Buluba Hospital |
Mayuge |
Palliative Care/ART |
Holy Cross Hospital-Namungoona |
Wakiso |
Palliative Care/ART |
Iganga Islamic HC III |
Iganga |
Palliative Care |
Ishaka Adventist Hospital |
Bushenyi |
Palliative Care/ART |
Kampala Diocese* |
Kampala |
Palliative Care- non clinical care |
Kasana Luweero-Namaliga HC III |
Luweero |
Palliative Care/ART |
Kilembe Mines Hospital |
Kasese |
Palliative Care/ART |
Kisiizi Hospital |
Rukungiri |
Palliative Care/ART |
Kiwoko Hospital |
Luweero |
Palliative Care/ART |
Kuluva Hospital |
Arua |
Palliative Care/ART |
Kumi Hospital |
Kumi |
Palliative Care/ART |
Kyetume CBHC HC III |
Mukono |
Palliative Care/ART |
Lyantonde Muslim HC III |
Lyantonde |
Palliative Care/ART |
Meeting Pont Kampala* |
Kampala |
Palliative Care- non clinical care |
Meeting Pont Kitgum* |
Kitgum |
Palliative Care- non clinical care |
Mengo Hospital |
Kampala |
Palliative Care/ART |
Nyapea Hospital |
Nebbi |
Palliative Care/ART |
Saidina Abubaker Islamic Hospital |
Wakiso |
Palliative Care/ART |
St Francis Health Care Services HC III |
Mukono |
Palliative Care/ART |
* These are purely community based organizations offering non-clinical palliative care and referring the clients for other services (non facility FBOs).
IRCU networks with other stakeholders such as MoH, JCRC, Mild May, PSI and Uganda AIDS Commission in its HIV/AIDS work.