HIV: Lack of health services weighs down Kalangala
Mar 17, 2009
I did not have to ask Noah Bazaale if he was sick. It was written all over his face as he sat outside Kalangala Health Centre. A few years ago, Bazaale was a successful fisherman. Today, he has only one thing to show for his fishing experience; HIV/AIDS.
By Stephen Ssenkaaba
I did not have to ask Noah Bazaale if he was sick. It was written all over his face as he sat outside Kalangala Health Centre. A few years ago, Bazaale was a successful fisherman. Today, he has only one thing to show for his fishing experience; HIV/AIDS.
Bazaale was too sick to attend the recent hand over by the Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC) of an Anti Retroviral Therapy (ARV) facility to the district LC5 chairman, Daniel Kikoola.
The facility is one of the interventions by JCRC to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS in Kalangala. Since March 2007 when the centre launched a collaboration with the Ministry of Health, health service provision, particularly of ARVs, for the fishing communities has somewhat improved.
Despite this, Kalangala, with a 30% prevalence rate, has one of the highest HIV-positive populations. The national average is 6.4%.
Inadequate facilities
Bazaale was pleased about JCRC’s intervention. But he is not sure how far the facility will go in bringing about a meaningful change in the district.
Hamidu Joki had spent two weeks at Kalangala Health Centre IV where he took an HIV test. Joki would have to wait another week before getting his results. Kalangala does not have a CD4 cell testing machine; the tests are done in Kampala. CD4 cell testing is done to determine whether a person is eligible for ARVS. “There is no commuter boat to and from the island. The ferry comes and goes at specific hours,†explains Philliam Kerunega, the in-charge of the HIV clinic.
He says Kalangala Health Centre IV, the main health centre in the district, lacks basic facilities like drugs and beds.The HIV clinic receives over 50 outpatients every day. It has only eight health workers. “We are so overstretched that we sometimes borrow staff from other departments,†says Kerunega.
Dr. Hilary Bitakaramire, the district health officer, says Kalangala district has 11 health centres and 104 health workers serving a population of over 50,000.
Hard to reach
Covering an area of 1,600km, Kalangala district is made up of 84 islands. Its vast area makes delivery of health services a nightmare. “It takes three hours and sh300,000 worth of petrol by motor boat to travel from one island to another,†says Kerunega.
Fishermen factor
Joseph Kyamule, a fisherman, has had unprotected sex with more women than he can count. “Condoms are not readily available, sex is,†he says.
According to JCRC, HIV infection in Kalangala district is highest among fishing communities, ranging from 10 to 40% of the population.
Despite this situation, most people are not keen on testing for HIV. “Abantu wano bamanyiira (people here are used to the conditions). Besides why test when there is no medicine?â€says Siraje Kalyango, a boda boda cyclist.
Despite the dire need for help, Kalangala district seems to be receiving minimum assistance from the Government. Apart from providing basic facilities, drugs and funding, the Government is yet to provide a hardship allowance to health workers in the district.
“The Government is doing its best to address the situation,†Kikoola says. One of the measures is encouraging homebased testing and counselling. “We have also established health units in every parish bringing the services closer to the people.â€
That not withstanding, the district still faces challenges in the battle against HIV/AIDS. It is a battle that all stakeholders need to work harder to overcome.
I did not have to ask Noah Bazaale if he was sick. It was written all over his face as he sat outside Kalangala Health Centre. A few years ago, Bazaale was a successful fisherman. Today, he has only one thing to show for his fishing experience; HIV/AIDS.
Bazaale was too sick to attend the recent hand over by the Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC) of an Anti Retroviral Therapy (ARV) facility to the district LC5 chairman, Daniel Kikoola.
The facility is one of the interventions by JCRC to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS in Kalangala. Since March 2007 when the centre launched a collaboration with the Ministry of Health, health service provision, particularly of ARVs, for the fishing communities has somewhat improved.
Despite this, Kalangala, with a 30% prevalence rate, has one of the highest HIV-positive populations. The national average is 6.4%.
Inadequate facilities
Bazaale was pleased about JCRC’s intervention. But he is not sure how far the facility will go in bringing about a meaningful change in the district.
Hamidu Joki had spent two weeks at Kalangala Health Centre IV where he took an HIV test. Joki would have to wait another week before getting his results. Kalangala does not have a CD4 cell testing machine; the tests are done in Kampala. CD4 cell testing is done to determine whether a person is eligible for ARVS. “There is no commuter boat to and from the island. The ferry comes and goes at specific hours,†explains Philliam Kerunega, the in-charge of the HIV clinic.
He says Kalangala Health Centre IV, the main health centre in the district, lacks basic facilities like drugs and beds.The HIV clinic receives over 50 outpatients every day. It has only eight health workers. “We are so overstretched that we sometimes borrow staff from other departments,†says Kerunega.
Dr. Hilary Bitakaramire, the district health officer, says Kalangala district has 11 health centres and 104 health workers serving a population of over 50,000.
Hard to reach
Covering an area of 1,600km, Kalangala district is made up of 84 islands. Its vast area makes delivery of health services a nightmare. “It takes three hours and sh300,000 worth of petrol by motor boat to travel from one island to another,†says Kerunega.
Fishermen factor
Joseph Kyamule, a fisherman, has had unprotected sex with more women than he can count. “Condoms are not readily available, sex is,†he says.
According to JCRC, HIV infection in Kalangala district is highest among fishing communities, ranging from 10 to 40% of the population.
Despite this situation, most people are not keen on testing for HIV. “Abantu wano bamanyiira (people here are used to the conditions). Besides why test when there is no medicine?â€says Siraje Kalyango, a boda boda cyclist.
Despite the dire need for help, Kalangala district seems to be receiving minimum assistance from the Government. Apart from providing basic facilities, drugs and funding, the Government is yet to provide a hardship allowance to health workers in the district.
“The Government is doing its best to address the situation,†Kikoola says. One of the measures is encouraging homebased testing and counselling. “We have also established health units in every parish bringing the services closer to the people.â€
That not withstanding, the district still faces challenges in the battle against HIV/AIDS. It is a battle that all stakeholders need to work harder to overcome.