Ruth's Story

Like Hadijah, Ruth lost her husband to AIDS, and refused to become a victim. She’s one of the founders of MASA, which began in 1992 with just six people, looking for ways to cope with and prevent HIV/AIDS. Now, MASA sees about 50 clients each day, and is a major health care provider in the Mukono district.

Ruth Kawessa

MASA offers HIV testing, pre- and post- test counseling, and provides drugs for the treatment of opportunistic infections associated with HIV. One in three people tested at MASA turns out to be HIV positive.

MASA efforts focus on preventing the spread of HIV, as well as making life better for those affected by the virus.  A big part of the challenge is communication...Ruth and others at MASA have found a special way to reach out.

For members of the Mukono AIDS Support Association, the act of teaching through song has become an important way to improve HIV prevention and treatment.  Fear of stigma can keep people from getting tested, from practicing safer sex and from getting the care and treatment they need.  For these reasons, efforts to shift community attitudes about  HIV/AIDS are crucial for prevention efforts, and for those who are already  living with the virus.

“We have a drummer group for people living with HIV/AIDS,” Ruth explains.  Without fear of ridicule, these HIV-positive people fight stigma by performing in public.  “They tell the community to come in for accurate information, screening to know their HIV status, prevention of transmission by mothers to their newborn infants…above all, to live positively with HIV/AIDS,” says Ruth.  The performers are part of a “post-test club” – comprising people who come together for support after finding out they are HIV-positive.

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Uganda - We Are the People of Aids

Hadijah's Story

A CHAIN OF SUPPORT AMID ENORMOUS NEEDS

The Bank-funded Multi-Sectoral AIDS Program has created a chain of support extending down to the villages. Community groups across Uganda have been trained to plan, implement, monitor and report, buy goods and to manage funds. Over time, procedures for community participation have been clear, simple, and well publicized.

Group accountability has gone a long way to prevent corruption and led to good use of the funds. Everyone knew how much was received and how much was spent, which helped ensure that most projects were implemented as planned.

Communities have identified priorities and been empowered to meet their needs. Results include increased: voluntary counseling and testing, access to treatment through referrals for drugs to treat opportunistic infections and antiretrovirals, support for AIDS orphans and widows, provision of home-based care services, income-generating activities that benefit members of community organizations.