Kitgum Girls' and Mothers' Sanitation, Health and Education Project 2011

Project Title: Kitgum Girls' and Mothers' Sanitation, Health and Education Project - 2011
Project Number:  Future Vision Project  #25183
Host Club: Rotary Club of Kitgum
International Partners: Rotary Club of Mt. Airy, RC-King, RC-Surry Sunrise, RC-Yadkin Valley, RC-Walnut Cove, RC-Hillsville and RC-Charlotte
Project Location: Kitgum, Northern Uganda.

Kitgum is a municipality in Kitgum District, in Northern Uganda. The town is administered by Kitgum Town Council, an Urban Local Government within Kitgum District Administration. It is the largest metropolitan area in Kitgum District and the district headquarters are located there.

Kitgum District is bordered by South Sudan to the north, Kaabong District to the east, Kotido District to the southeast, Agago District to the south,Pader District to the southwest and Lamwo District to the northwest. According to the Ugandan national census of 2002, Kitgum District, as constituted in 2011 had a population of 167,030, of whom 51.3% were females and 48.7% were males. The annual population growth rate of the district was estimated at 3.5%. With those statistics, it is estimated that the population of the district in 2010, was approximately 220,000

The Maternity Beds and Maama Kits for Expectant Mothers.

Rotary Club of Kitgum purchased birthing hospital beds from the government approved Joint medical store in Kampala, and provided the birthing Hospital beds to 18 Health Units /clinics. Rotary Club of Kitgum  also purchased birthing Kits (Mamaa Kits) and distributed them to the 18 selected health units. All visiting expectant Mothers received the maama kit on their visit to the health Units. The Mama Kits Package also included a medium mosquito net, disposable razor blades, soap. sheeting, tetracycline eye ointment, surgical gloves, umbilical cord ties, and gauze.

The medical staff at the health Units made a plan for teaching the expectant Mothers, traditional birth attendants, and midwives who came for their free kits: this plan will include how to use the kits, the necessity of getting HIVAIDs testing and also how to take retroviral, the importance of a good diet, the importance for infected mothers of getting their newborns tested for HIV Aids at 6 weeks. An emergency plan was put in place for notifying and transporting women to Kitgum hospital in case of sepsis, pre-enclampsia and abortion difficulties. Staff at the units were instructed on keeping records

and data.

  

The Maternity/ Birthing Beds and Maama Kits Arrive and offloaded infront of kitgum District local Govement offices

Rotarian Simon Peter Lawoko Inspects to see that they are of the specified quality.

Rotarian Andrew Obol explains to the district team and the journalists about the Rotary intervention

Setting up the bed up for demonstration.

Journalists cover the event for TV and Radio Production.

Construction of the Girls Wash Room

Construction of the washroom facilities in 2 pilot schools (Kitgum YY. Okot Memorial Collage and Kitgum Comprehensive School) was done in line with the Ugandan Government approved design and standard. The facility was built to have 10 basins, and 5 jerry cans, with water collected in a harvesting system from the roof. Training for girls and female teachers was done by an external facilitator that specialized in delivery of workshops regarding personal hygiene, management of menses, gender issues, violence against girls, and sexual abuse. This  provided the girls and teachers a safe forum for discussions and building upon the existing GEM club activities at each school. Schools  receive approximately 200 Afri-Pads (sanitary Pads) and girls were trained in how to maintain them, as well as maintain the washroom facilities. A one day sensitization workshop for the School Management Committee, Parents-Teachers-Association (P.T.A) committee, and all teachers will enabled the major stakeholders to discuss the problems girls face and came up with solutions.

Objectives of the Project

• Build girls self esteem

• Reduce incidences of bullying and violence against girls

• Reduce girls missing classes during their menses

• Increase the percentage of girls graduating

• Make hygiene and Afripads accessible to girls

• Encourage expectant mothers to come to clinics for prenatal visits

• Diagnose and treat conditions which lead to infant mortality

• Provide more hygienic conditions for birth to prevent disease and infection.

The Girls Workshop at Kitgum YY. Okot Memorial College (Pictorials)

    Girls listen attentively to the trainer 

The Afri-Pads (sanitary Pads) Arrive

The Trainer answers questions raised by the Girls

The Girls receive their Sanitary Pads

The Girls Register for Sanitary Pads

                                             The Girls Excited upon receipt of the Afri-Pads

The Girls Workshop at Kitgum Comprehensive college

Students of Comprehensive College listen attentively.

Practical Approach.

Participatory Approach

This is one of request that came through during Q&A (Names Removed)

Another request by one of the ladies in the Training. (Names Removed)

Girls Receive the Afripads (Sanitary pads)

Rotarians distributing the Afripads.

  The Washroom built at Kitgum Comprehensive College by Rotary Club of Kitgum

The Washroom completed with 2 changing rooms and 2 bathrooms.