Uganda

HIV/AIDS Care

In a country where 1.4 million people are living with HIV. Despite significant improvements, HIV detection and care remain a public health concern in specific groups of people, such as fishing communities, children and adolescents.

Women and young women are disproportionately affected. There are many political and cultural barriers which have hindered effective HIV prevention programming in Uganda.  Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to life-threatening health risks related to unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortion, HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections, due to a lack of awareness about these risks, and the shortage of youth-friendly sexual health and counselling services.

MSF opened an adolescent centre in Kasese town in 2015, which offers sexual and reproductive healthcare, support for victims of sexual violence, as well as community awareness-raising and recreational activities that encourage adolescents to seek medical consultations.

Care for Sudanese Refugees

Hundreds of thousands of refugees have fled to northern Uganda following violence in South Sudan.

Approximately one million are from the southern belt of South Sudan (Greater Equatoria region) who fled after intense fighting erupted in their country in July 2016. 85% of those fleeing over the border were women and children.

Despite the efforts of the Ugandan authorities and other organisations, the provision of aid has been insufficient to meet the urgent needs of so many people.