GlobeMed at the University of North Carolina partners with Health Alert — Uganda in Gulu to improve the lives of HIV positive youth throughout northern Uganda.
GlobeMed at UNC - Chapel Hill + Health Alert - Uganda
Chapter
GlobeMed at The University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Partner
Health Alert – Uganda (HAU) | Gulu, Uganda
Key Fact
Northern Uganda suffers from an HIV/AIDS infection rate of 8.5%, compared with a 6.4% nationwide prevalence. As of March 2010, 18% of HIV/AIDS transmission in Uganda occurs via mother to child transmission.
“There are many young people living positively with HIV/AIDS who are sexually active. It is important to educate them and make them aware of their rights, responsibilities and obligations.”
– Francis Obutu, Founder, Health Alert – Uganda
About the Partnership
Health Alert-Uganda (HAU) is a grassroots non-profit organization founded in 2004 by community leaders to fill the void of healthcare for children infected and/or affected by HIV/AIDS in the Northern Ugandan districts of Gulu, Amuru, and Nwoya. Through a dedicated staff and 80 community volunteers, Health Alert – Uganda supports at least 1,200 children living with HIV in the surrounding area via close monitoring and evaluation of the children’s health, well-being, and adherence to ARV treatment.
Since the fall of 2008, the GlobeMed chapter at UNC-Chapel Hill has raised more than $20,000 to support Health Alert – Uganda’s community-driven initiatives, which includes the expansion of a Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) program, construction of a center for peer educators and HIV positive youth, and the establishment of seed and goat-lending initiatives.
Project
This year, GlobeMed at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has raised over $8,000 for Health Alert – Uganda to fund automotive fuel for the provision of home-based care and support services for children living with HIV/AIDS; safe delivery kits for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV; and positive prevention trade school education for youth living with HIV/AIDS.
Impact
The comprehensive nature of GlobeMed at UNC-Chapel Hill and HAU’s projects will impact the overall health of communities in northern Uganda by reducing the incidence of pediatric HIV/AIDS, increasing HIV education in order to eliminate stigmatization, and reducing overall mortality from HIV/AIDS.
Get Involved
Read GlobeMed at UNC – Chapel Hill’s annual report and donate to their cause. Interested in joining the chapter? Contact unc@globemed.org.
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