FOR $10 HELP REFUGEES HOST COMMUNITIES IN UGANDA

Kigezi Healthcare Foundation, two months ago, visited the refugees and their hosting communities in West Nile. The West Nile Region is home to about 787,928 refugees, from South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. They live in the districts of Adjumani (245,289), Madi Okollo and Terego (196,458), Obongi (125,687), and Yumbe (227,996).Some are driven from their homes by conflict, poverty or climate change; others leave in the hope of finding a better life. Far too many encounter danger, detention, deprivation and discrimination on their journeys, at destination. Children suffer the most due to their dependency state making them vulnerable. There is always the chronic shortage of sufficient healthcare services, education services and all other social amenities where that are essential for a smooth life. The children suffer from malnutrition due to shortage of food and also due to diseases such as intestinal worms. This has a far-reaching impact where the caretakers find it hard to work as they have to spend time looking after the sickly children hence the breadwinners can’t look for food and other basic needs anymore. This makes their lives more miserable.

During this visit, 350 children were dewormed against intestinal worms which cause illnesses like anemia, intestinal obstruction, diarrhea and malnutrition. This was done through primary schools that they go to. More 53 were supported with scholastic materials that included books, pens and pencils.

This was a stich in time as a great percentage of the few refugee children that go to school always drop out due to many reasons including lack of scholastic materials. This gives us hope as more children will access education and illnesses due to intestinal worm infestations will not be part of their burden in the next few months. We are grateful to the noble people supporting this cause and we encourage more to join us in this push to change our world.