Serving Uganda’s Key Populations and Priority Populations with Diligence and Dedication: A Vignette Project- Part (2)

Silos And Glamour Activism

Some 25 years ago, little did we know of the trends that HIV/TB/Malaria Prevention would take. Funds poured in to promote advocacy for the various Key Populations which ranged from Long Distance Truckers; Persons with Disposable Cash; Fisher-folk; Uniformed Personnel; People Living With HIV/TB; Substance, Injecting, Drug and Alcohol Users; Single-Mothers; Sex-Workers; LGBTIQ+; and Indigenous Populations. However, these funds did not go further to serve that moment when people were struggling, when they faced catastrophic events and AIDS limited the activities, they engaged in. The room for relentless support was not accommodated by many organization leaders who dismissed suffering. Many made remarks such as “in this day and age of abundant ARVs how come so and so is suffering?” They concluded that, “those who were suffering brought it upon themselves.” We know better than making such blanket statements. Living long with HIV comes with its nuanced experiences of pain and opportunistic infections. In our case this is why we took care of this group. 

Persons with AIDS were not contagious except in unprotected sexual activity, but they were stigmatized and discriminated against once they showed signs such as skin rash or paleness of skin. They were called names  and shamed. They were ridiculed and shunned. But these are not solutions. 

In fact, they are the hallmarks of organizations that were not well formed or prepared to go all the way as far as HIV-Care/Prevention Continuum go. It reflects the funding policy too.

Advocacy work is important at all three levels of prevention, the primary, secondary and tertiary. At the primary are all the organizations making the necessary visibility and awareness that harmful acts, stigma, and discrimination should be addressed. This created poster figures in the Long-Distance Truckers; Persons with Disposable Cash; Fisher-folk; Uniformed Personnel; People Living With HIV/TB; Substance, as Injecting, Drug and Alcohol Users; Single-Mothers; Sex-Workers; LGBTIQ+; and Indigenous Populations. On top of this list are the Youth Living With HIV, LGBTIQ+ and Sex-workers who have established systems of feedback and referral as far raising awareness about their claims and rights go. They did credible work during the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown. Many distributed food, Sanitizer, and medication. There are two levels that have not been strategically tapped into, yet they constitute the last mile” or front-line.

These are the Secondary Prevention Level:  linkage to care, following up those who are lost to contact or care and ensuring Housing, Active life, Nutrition, Dignity of persons and Sustainable Development Systems are in place. The Tertiary Prevention Level: building networks of support, establishing referral networks, and strengthening structures and systems promoting quality living for all Ugandans.

Our work is mostly in the last two levels, and we hope more and more organizations will follow the tide of the HIV/TB/Malaria Prevention Continuum diligently and with the dedication it deserves. We see and meet many at the International Conference, but we never see that many at the “last mile” or front-line. We call upon funders to provide the necessary support to bring the much-needed care logistics where it is needed and bespoke.