Building on the achievements and lessons learned from the previous Namugongo Capacity Building for the Prevention and Management of HIV/AIDS Project, AMU Luxembourg continued its support towards strengthening the capacity of Zia Angelina Health Centre and improving the well-being of vulnerable communities in Kira Municipality.
The project adopted a broader and more integrated approach, combining health service strengthening, community outreach, HIV/AIDS management, psychosocial support, vocational skills development and effective project management. The intervention recognized that improving the quality of life of people affected by HIV/AIDS requires not only access to medical care but also social, psychological and economic empowerment.
The project focused on the following key objectives:
1. To enhance the capacity of medical workers in HIV/AIDS management and psychosocial support
The project supported continuous capacity building of 85 medical and supporting staff at Zia Angelina Health Centre to improve their knowledge and skills in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and management of HIV/AIDS. Health workers were equipped with updated knowledge and practical skills to provide comprehensive and patient-centred HIV/AIDS services.
Particular emphasis was placed on psychosocial support and counselling, recognizing the emotional, social and family-related challenges experienced by people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Strengthening the capacity of health workers enabled them to provide appropriate counselling, treatment adherence support, follow-up and referrals for beneficiaries requiring additional assistance.
The capacity-building activities also contributed to improved teamwork, service delivery and responsiveness to the needs of HIV-positive clients, including children, adults and vulnerable households and general health service care in Zia Angelina.
2. To enhance outreach and sensitization activities in Namugongo and surrounding communities
The project strengthened community-based health promotion and HIV/AIDS sensitization activities to over 1000 people in Namugongo and surrounding communities of Kira Municipality. Outreach activities provided opportunities to take health information and services closer to community members who might otherwise face barriers in accessing health facilities.
Community sensitization focused on HIV/AIDS prevention, early testing, treatment adherence, stigma reduction, healthy lifestyles and the importance of seeking timely medical care. The outreach approach also encouraged community members to make use of available health services and supported early identification and referral of people requiring further medical attention.
Through these activities, the project strengthened the link between Zia Angelina Health Centre and the community and promoted greater awareness and participation in HIV/AIDS prevention and management.
3. To train people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS in vocational skills
Recognizing the link between poverty, vulnerability and access to healthcare, the project incorporated a vocational training component to economically empower people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.
270 Beneficiaries were provided with opportunities to acquire practical and market-oriented skills that could enable them to establish or improve small income-generating activities. The training aimed not only to provide technical skills but also to strengthen beneficiaries’ confidence, selfreliance and ability to contribute to household income.
Depending on the training programme, beneficiaries were equipped with skills in areas such as tailoring, soap making, crafts, book making, agribusiness and other practical livelihood activities. Where appropriate, the training was complemented by entrepreneurship, savings and marketing knowledge to help beneficiaries translate their acquired skills into sustainable economic opportunities.
The vocational training component therefore complemented the health interventions by addressing some of the socio-economic challenges faced by vulnerable individuals and households.
In addition to the vocational training, the project also had an element of training of mothers in therapeutic nutrition during the immunization. Over 1500 mothers are projected to be trained over the project period.
4. To enhance effective project management
The project also placed emphasis on strengthening project management to ensure that activities were implemented efficiently, transparently and in accordance with the agreed objectives and plans.
Project management activities included planning, budgeting, implementation, monitoring, documentation, reporting and financial accountability. Regular monitoring helped the project team assess progress, identify challenges and take corrective measures where necessary.
The project also strengthened coordination between the implementing team, health workers, community structures and beneficiaries. Proper documentation and reporting provided evidence of achievements, challenges, lessons learned and the use of project resources.
Overall Contribution of the Project
The project built on the foundation established by the previous AMU-supported intervention and expanded its focus from institutional capacity building to a more community-oriented and holistic approach. By combining health service strengthening with community sensitization, psychosocial support and vocational training, the project addressed both the immediate health needs and some of the underlying socio-economic challenges affecting people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.
The intervention consequently strengthened the capacity of Zia Angelina Health Centre, improved community awareness and access to HIV/AIDS-related services, and provided vulnerable beneficiaries with opportunities to acquire skills that could contribute to improved household livelihoods and resilience.
The experience gained through this project also provided a foundation for subsequent AMU-supported interventions, particularly in vocational training and economic empowerment of vulnerable groups.