Day 12

Wow - sometimes we think we are too busy and/or short staffed to cope with the amount of work we have but today we have spent the morning working with 'The Aids Support Organisation' (TASO) in Kampala. One clinic this morning - 250 patients booked in and another 30 who turned up on the off chance of being seen. No-one is turned away so everybody gets an appointment!!
In the early 1980's there were 38% of the Ugandan population suffering from HIV/Aids. That is now down to only 6%, however that percentage hasn't changed for the last 4 years. It seems that Ugandans have become complacent about the disease, not fearing it so much, as treatment is widely available and the stigma of having the virus has largely been eradicated.
TASO is an incredible place, people were absolutely everywhere, waiting for blood tests, then to see the doctor, then to have counselling. People on benches, on beds, on the floor, on the grass. 2 nurses, 2 doctors and 4 counsellors.
But, people were happy to wait as they knew that would be receiving good care and advice and free treatment. This service is set up primarily for the poor. Rich people can get treatment easily in one of the many private clinics.
It was a fascinating morning, we learnt much about the development of the virus in Uganda, its treatment and how treatment can be accessed by people in the remotest tribes. TASO has the main clinic in Kampala and then 10 other satellites around Uganda.
More importantly though we managed to get a good link to the World Food Programme (WFP) and as a result of that contact and in my capacity as a Palliative Care Advisor to APP, I have now applied to WFP for access to food for prisoners who are suffering from HIV/Aids. At the moment the prisoners in the condemned section have just one bowl of food (maize porridge) per day which they then try and spread out across three meals. It is not nutritious and doesn't help in the recovery from illness or wound healing, which as most of us know, requires a good healthy diet. So, hopefully we will get some results/advice from this application. It would be an amazing development and improvement for the prisoners if it were to happen.

Well the good news is that our permission letters have finally arrived. Tomorrow we will be in Women's Prisons all day (Luzira in the morning and Kigo in the afternoon). Christopher will be undertaking art with the Women and Children and Daphne and I will be training and discussing issues around palliative care.

Fortunately for us all, a much more peaceful day (no tear gas or bullets) - Thank You God!

Kampala yesterday evening - a sign of hope and promise.

We have sent many messages to our friends in the UK but it appears we are unable to receive text messages back. If you have texted us - please don't be offended if we haven't replied. We are, however, receiving e-mail, can access facebook and can see comments on the blog - it would be so good to hear from some of you.
We are missing you.

Catherine and Christopher xx