Life Skills Education and Counseling - Kigalama - Kigalama Primary School - Namutumba

Visit by Lorna Katagara on 2018-11-02

Report ID
3391
Created by
Suzan Winnie
Created date
2018-11-05 07:17:48 UTC
Modified by
Lorna Katagara
Modified date
2018-11-05 14:08:45 UTC
Trip Time
10:10-17:46 (7 h 36 m)
Village Time
10:16-15:50 (5 h 34 m)
Travel Time
2 h 2 m

Current State

Participation Rating
0 
Success
 
Village Critical Needs
They have a broken borehole that needs repair. 
Village Action Steps
 
Staff Action Steps
 
Sanitation Hygiene Committee
 
Water Users Committee
 
Other Class Notes
N/A 
Community Ownership
unknown 
Ownership Story
 
Three Stone Fires
 
Access to Clean Water
 
Open Defecation
 
Water Access Explain
 
Prevent Ownership
Poor leadership 
Allow Ownership
N/A 
Village Notes
The previous week they received visitors from the government concerning their hygiene and sanitation standards. They were checking on the sanitation facilities. They also were training the local leaders of various villages on the required facilities. They added that they will be arresting any local village chairman without these facilities and also who’s children are not in school since, they are the role models of the village. 

Life Skills Education and Counseling community lesson

School
Kigalama Primary School 
Lesson Taught
Cure or Treatment 
Girls Attended
2 
Boys Attended
0 
Total Student Attendance
2 
Teachers Attended
0 
Fathers Attended
8 
Mothers Attended
10 
Total Parent Attendance
18 
Staff Attendees
Lorna Katagara 
Government Attendees
LC1 
School Staff Attendees
Life Skills Teacher 
Visitor Attendees
None 
Total Attendance
0 
Learning Objectives
To understand the difference between cure and treatment To also know that there various treatments available for Persons living with HIV/AIDS. To know that there is no cure for HIV/AIDS.
Notes
Introduction Lorna was in this village to teach about Cure or Treatment, Rights of persons living with HIV/AIDS. Overview Lorna reached the village and started by moving around a few homes to check on their sanitation standards. Lorna noticed that most of the homes had latrines, kitchens , shower rooms, although not well maintained. Lorna also noticed a broken borehole and when she met the care taker of the borehole to ask what the problem was, he says the borehole keeps breaking down despite their efforts repairing it. The care taker also informed Lorna that this borehole has a lot of water and this was confirmed by other community members. She asked about the water User committee but she was told that there is no longer one and that everything was left for this one man. Lorna advised that they need to have a village meeting and choose another Water User Committee. Lorna together with other community members she met along the way then went back to the meeting place. Lorna waited a few minutes before starting the meeting as some members had gone to the mosque. Later however Lorna decided to start the meeting and told the rest of the meeting that those who were not there will find them halfway. Lorna introduced the topic of the day which was cure or treatment of HIV/AIDs and the rights of Persons living with HIV. Lorna started by asking what was the difference between someone who has been Cured and that one who is still on treatment. One lady said that to cure is when the person is healed of the disease affecting them for good while one being on treatment means that the sickness is there but, there measures available to suppress the sickness and symptoms of a particular disease but it does not mean that the person is healed. Lorna then asked is it possible for a person to be cured but get sick again?, they said yes. Fred one of the community members asked if that’s the case then , then HIV/AIDS can be cured. Lorna asked him why he then said because when one swallows medicine their viral load goes down and they don’t seem sick anymore. Lorna asked the members whether this was true but the members said AIDS does not cure. Lorna added that it is true HIV/AIDS does not cure and said HIV/AIDS is caused by a virus while the other diseases that can cure like malaria, typhoid and others can cure because they are caused by bacteria. Lorna then asked the next question what other treatment plan is there for PLWHIV besides their treatment. Members mentioned; the person should have no stress, should eat a balanced diet, should not do a lot of work. Lorna added that these persons need spousal support In case they are married, she added that the family should also support these persons for example, to remind them of taking their medicines, counsel them, do not throw harsh comments at them, incase they get other sickness to see that , they treat them. Lorna added that if there is not family support at home, what about in the society ?. She added that this person needs to feel comfortable at home and feel loved. Lorna added counselling services, spiritual empowerment by going to church, doing physical exercises among others. Lorna then went on to the rights of persons living with HIV/AIDS. Lorna asked the community members what were some of their rights and they mentioned; right to eat well(balanced diet), right to work, right to marry. Lorna added rights to social inclusion, right to get married, right to security, right to proper treatments , right to education among others. Lorna asked the community whether they had a right to drink and smoke?. The community said yes , Lorna then asked was drinking and smoking good for their health?, they answered no. One man however said there are stubborn people who cannot do away with their drinks and so what should be done for such people?. Lorna advised them to tell them the effects of drinking and smoking on their health. She also told them it is definitely hard to quit at once but encouraged them to not get tired of talking to these people. She mentioned that if they took 4 bottles of beer previously they can reduce to 2 , 1 eventually they may give it up. Conclusion Lorna concluded by telling them to also teach these things to their children so that the children may not end up falling victims. Lorna is aware that for most of the parents talking about such things to their children is a taboo. She however encouraged them to play their role as parents and not leave it for the teachers. She added that this is the only way to protect the teens from contracting HIV at an early age such as 15 which is slowly rising. Lorna reminded them of the saying charity begins at home. 
Next Visit
2018-11-15 - Purpose: Review the HIV lessons and introduce new topic relationship skills.
Program Success
Program Critical Needs
Program Ownership
Other Program Observations
Program Expected Of Village
Program Staff Preparations Next Visit