SUPPORT HEALTH NEEDS OF 1000 ADOLESCENTS IN UGANDA

 A total number of 24 outreaches and in-reaches were carried out. Adolescent services were issued to 500 (340F,160M) adolescents 10-19 years. Some of the services offered to these adolescents included HIV testing and counseling. We tested 53 youths both male and female and they got to know their HIV status. This is essential in the efforts to end HIV/AIDS among the youths they learn to protect themselves from to prevent further infections.

In addition, 26 pregnant youths who were attending the antenatal Clinic were also tested for HIV. One patient accessed prophylaxis exposure prevention for HIV following a blood splash. This youth received treatment to prevent them from contracting HIV disease. A total of three youths received antiretrovirals during this quarter from CFU medical center. In addition, screening for malnutrition was done and all the youth were assessed to know their nutrition status using Body Mass Index (BMI) and BMI for Age. They had a normal nutrition status.

A total of 26 adolescent girls attended antenatal care as supported by CFU. After the ANC visits, 5 of these mothers gave birth at CFU medical center. Ie two had a normal delivery and 3 had a caesarian. Mothers that accessed the first antenatal visit in the first trimester were five and those who had attended at least four visits were only 6 persons.

Family planning is another service sought by our youth.  A total of 127 youths accessed different family planning options including short- and long-term methods.

In the last couple of months, the activities carried out included family planning services, counseling, and testing for HIV. These activities were done during the community outreaches and in reaches at Child and Family Foundation Uganda. The youth face many challenges in life but unfortunately do not have anyone with whom they can share their grief. This has led to escalated cases of adolescents committing suicide in Uganda in the past months. As CFU, we reach out to these Adolescents and provide the supportive health care they need to have healthy lives.

The free counseling sessions ensure that these adolescents have their problems discussed with professional counselors and solved to prevent depression. These adolescents tend to always be shy and cannot easily share their personal or health challenges with others or their guardians at home. But with empathetic counselors, they have their challenges listened to and solved.

About 400 adolescents(66 females, 34 males)received the family planning services which was inclusive of counseling services too. The young adolescents were advised to abstain from sex while those who were sexually active opted for condom use to prevent unwanted pregnancies and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs). HIV testing and counseling services were given to enable the adolescents to know their HIV status.

Due to the outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease epidemic in Uganda, it was so important to take part in the prevention campaign. We sensitized the adolescents and other community members about the causes, signs, and proper ways of preventing Ebola. Community sensitization drives and dialogues were conducted so that the people knew about the Ebola disease. This was of significant impact as the people became vigilant about Ebola and could also pass on the message to their peers and households.

Solving the problem of Nutrition health needs, adolescents were taught the importance of making Kitchen gardens in their households. These are to provide vegetables to families to prevent the occurrence of micronutrient deficiencies, especially among families with adolescents and teenage mothers. The kitchen garden was also another way of empowering their livelihoods as would also plant many gardens for home consumption as well as for commercial(to earn a living from them)

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