MEETING MEETING POINTPOINT

Kitgum, UgandaKitgum, Uganda

What is Meeting Point?What is Meeting Point?

Local NGOLocal NGO composed of Volunteers providing support and care to people INFECTED and AFFECTED by HIV/AIDS

Funded in 1990Funded in 1990 in Kitgum district (Northern Uganda)

Recognized in 1994Recognized in 1994 by Uganda Government

Aim of the organizationAim of the organization

To accompany and value the people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS by following each PHAs encountered regardless of tribe or denomination.

To assure that none of  the friends encountered will be left alone in facing the disease and all the problems related to it, rejected by family and society.

Method of WorkMethod of Work

• Living a friendship, a personal relationship with the HIV/AIDS patients

• Help them to come up and make their own decisions

• Involvement of relatives, neighbors and the community

Organizational Structure/StaffingOrganizational Structure/Staffing

Foundation body 

Executive body 

Staffs/Volunteers

BeneficiariesBeneficiaries

• HIV/AIDS patients:

• Orphans, Vulnerable Children (OVC):

MaleMale FemaleFemale TotalTotal

664664 1,4871,487 2,1512,151

NurseryNursery PrimaryPrimary SecondarySecondary

222222 15315333

Vocational Vocational trainingtraining

InstitutionInstitution UniversityUniversity TotalTotal

2323 1111 99 421421

Operational AreaOperational AreaSUDAN KITGUM DISTRICTKITGUM DISTRICT

PADER DISTRICTPADER DISTRICT

Donors Donors (2006)(2006)

• AVSI (CRD, DSP‐OVC)• IRCU• CRS Uganda

• IRC• WFP• NUSAF

Partners Partners (2006)(2006)• St. Joseph’s Hospital (Kitgum)• Kitgum Government Hospital• Health Centers (Kitgum/Pader)• Kitgum District Director of Health Services (DDHS) office 

Activities Activities -- Counseling and referral Counseling and referral ((HIV blood test, Antiretroviral Treatment, Opportunistic HIV blood test, Antiretroviral Treatment, Opportunistic

Infections, TB)Infections, TB)

Patients are referred to Health Centers and St. Joseph’s Hospital Kitgum and Meeting Point takes care of their follow up.In 2006, 90.2%90.2% (334) of TB patients in SJH were tested HIV+.

Activities Activities -- Home visitsHome visits

Activities Activities -- Home Base CareHome Base Care

Opportunistic InfectionsOpportunistic Infections

Follow up of clients on ARVFollow up of clients on ARV

Activities Activities ––Spiritual SupportSpiritual Support

Activities Activities ––Food distributionFood distribution

Activities Activities –– Non food distributionNon food distribution

Activities Activities –– Income Generating Income Generating Activities (IGAs)Activities (IGAs)

Activities Activities ––Distance Distance

Support to Support to OrphansOrphans

Activities Activities –– Community SensitizationsCommunity Sensitizations

Open Air

Activities Activities –– Community SensitizationsCommunity Sensitizations

Drama Group

Activities Activities –– Community SensitizationsCommunity Sensitizations

Video Show

Activities Activities ––Training of staff Training of staff

Activities Activities –– MeetingsMeetings

‐ Joint leaders Meetings with local leaders, medical personnel, Meeting Point counselors (community levelcommunity level)

‐ Coordination meetings with District Health Department, partners and other stakeholders (district leveldistrict level)

A strong working relationshipA strong working relationshipwith the districtwith the district

A Clinical Officer from Kitgum Government Hospital helps Meeting Point clinic for OIs (opportunistic infections) treatment on a weekly base.

Drugs for OIs are provided by the DDHS office

Meeting Point Counselors go to the Kitgum Government AIDS‐clinic on a weekly base to counsel patients

The District implements some activities through Meeting Point (HBC, Home Visits, Sexually Transmitted Infections sensitization programme)

Monthly reports on the activities submitted to the DDHS

The HistoryThe HistoryIn 19901990 Meeting Point was founded by Elly OngeeElly Ongee, the principal of the District Farm Institute (DFI).

Sick of AIDSSick of AIDS, he found a friendship in a group of Italian AVSI volunteers and some African friends.

His family was the first encountered and supported by Meeting Point.

Starting from Elly, Meeting Point has always tried to give an answer to the desire for happiness.

EVEN SICKNESS,

WITH ITS TERRIBLE PAINS,

CAN BRING HAPPINESS!

BECAUSE          THESE FRIENDS

HAVE LOVE AND CARE FOR ME.

Meeting Point is the first organization in Kitgum district to provide voluntary support and carevoluntary support and care for people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS (volunteers offering their lunch, taking orphans in their houses).

HIV/AIDS patients supported since 1990:YearYear MM FF TotalTotal1990 4 12 16

1991 9 20 29

1992 41 87 128

1993 47 101 148

1994 113 155 268

1995 124 217 341

1996 86 116 202

1997 69 129 198

1998 45 123 168

1999 32 78 110

2000 30 88 118

2001 38 85 123

2002 56 202 258

2003 105 262 367

2004 111 311 422

2005 117 247 364

2006 64 137 201

TotalTotal(1990(1990‐‐2006)2006)

1,091 1,091  2,370 2,370  3,461 3,461 

From 1990 Meeting Point has grown not only in terms of number number of HIV/AIDS patients, but also in the experienceexperience trying to make its presence more concrete and continuous.

After seeing the good work done by the Volunteers, people in the communitypeople in the communitycommitted themselves to address and answer the problems of HIV/AIDS:

‐ Taking PHAs for treatmenttreatment to the hospital

‐ Offering a friendshipfriendship (every PHA still has a value, dignity, needs love, care and happiness as any other person).

“Now I am not alone anymore”(Wilson suffered from HIV and TB) 

““I have encountered I have encountered something beautiful something beautiful that gives meaning that gives meaning 

to my lifeto my life””(Elly Ongee)(Elly Ongee)