Friends Of Ruwenzori Foundation

"INVESTING IN HEALTHCARE AND EDUCATION TO BUILD ECONOMIC SELF-RELIANCE FOR RURAL UGANDANS." WE ARE THE FUNDING PARTNER OF KIDA (KITOJO INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT ACTION), A UGANDAN-RUN NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION.

HOSPITAL OPERATIONS AND PUBLIC HEALTH OUTREACH PROGRAMS: 1. SUBSIDY OF KIDA HOSPITAL OPERATIONS APPLIED TO SALARIES AND BENEFITS OF 50 HEALTHCARE WORKERS: $143,019. KIDA HOSPITAL PROVIDES 24-HOUR INPATIENT CARE, LABOR AND DELIVERY, C-SECTIONS AS NEEDED, MINOR SURGERY, OUTPATIENT CARE INCLUDING HIV TESTING, IMMUNIZATIONS, PRENATAL CARE AND FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES. IN 2021 THERE WERE 2,258 INPATIENT ADMISSIONS, 4,469 OUTPATIENT VISITS, 444 BABIES DELIVERED, 1009 FAMILY PLANNING VISITS, 1,672 WOMEN RECEIVED PRENATAL CARE, 936 HIV TESTS WERE PERFORMED, 937 VIRAL LOAD TESTS WERE DONE, 177 SURGICAL OPERATIONS TOOK PLACE AND 9,547 CHILDREN WERE VACCINATED. 2. SUBSIDY FOR COMMUNITY OUTREACH: $4,768. EVEN WITH THE GOVERNMENT LOCKDOWN DURING THE PANDEMIC IN MOST OF 2021, KIDA RECEIVED PERMISSION TO CONDUCT SOME COMMUNITY OUTREACHES TO ADDRESS PRIMARY HEALTH CARE NEEDS: 2,916 VACCINATIONS WERE DONE, 95 FAMILY PLANNING SESSIONS WERE CONDUCTED, AND 39 WOMEN RECEIVED PRENATAL CARE. KIDA'S DRAMA GROUP CONTINUED TO REHEARSE IN ANTICIPATION FOR SHOWS IN 2022. 28 OF THE 505 HIV POSITIVE CLIENTS WERE VISITED IN THEIR HOMES.

ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMS FOR THE POOR: 1. ORPHAN AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN EDUCATION COSTS: $26,938 FOR 91 STUDENTS SUPPORTED WITH SCHOOL FEES, SUPPLIES AND COUNSELING WHEN SCHOOL WAS IN SESSION. 81 STUDENTS FROM PRIMARY 4 TO HIGHER INSTITUTIONS WERE IN SCHOOL AT LEAST PART OF THE YEAR, BUT YOUNGER CHILDREN WERE NOT IN SCHOOL IN 2021. KIDA STAFF VISITED 45 OVC IN THEIR HOMES FOR PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT AND 57 SCHOOL VISITS WERE MADE TO CHECK PERFORMANCE OF THOSE IN SCHOOL. 2. VOCATIONAL SCHOOL FOR YOUTH SUBSIDY: $6,096. STUDENTS PAY A SMALL TUITION THAT PARTLY COVERS THE COST FOR TEACHER SALARIES AND SUPPLIES. GOAL IS FOR EACH STUDENT TO LEARN A MARKETABLE TRADE AND EARN INCOME. IN 2021 INSTRUCTION WAS INTERRUPTED FOR A COVID-19 LOCKDOWN FROM JUNE 1ST TO NOVEMBER 1ST. 22 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. WHEN CLASSES RESUMED IN NOVEMBER, 12 STUDENTS CONTINUED IN THE CLASSES OF BRICK BUILDING, CARPENTRY, TAILORING AND HAIRDRESSING. IN ADDITION, 75 STUDENTS JOINED IN TO UP TO 40 SESSIONS IN BASKET WEAVING AND LEATHER CRAFTS SO THAT FAMILIES COULD PRODUCE MARKETABLE PRODUCTS TO GENERATE SOME INCOME DURING THE LOCKDOWN.

DIRECT ASSISTANCE TO NEEDY FAMILIES IN THE KIDA COMMUNITY: 3 CHILDREN ARE SUPPORTED WITH SCHOOL FEES AND SUPPLIES.