Uganda: Healthcare Implementing Partner for UNHCR at Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement
Promoting Sustainability and Health Awareness: Q3 2016
October 08, 2016
Caroline Tukugize
Summary of Activities
In July 2014, RMF signed a tripartite agreement with UNHCR and the Government of Uganda to implement a health project aimed at addressing emergency operations and care of refugees and asylum seekers in Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement through the delivery of quality healthcare services. At that time, the refugee population was 24,722; however, this population has since almost tripled: as of September 2016, the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) shows 66,673 registered refugees living in Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement. This dramatic increase is due to the perilous security situation, drought, and famine in South Sudan.
The Government of Uganda still maintains its open border policy for South Sudanese, despite the strain placed on national structures and social services by the growing refugee population. Real Medicine Foundation will continue working to improve the health and wellbeing of displaced South Sudanese, asylum seekers, and host populations in Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement through accessible and sustainable health services.
As UNHCR’s Health Implementing Partner in Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement, RMF will leverage its well-established network of supported primary health care (PHC) facilities, namely: Panyadoli Health Centre III, Panyadoli Hills Health Centre II, Nyakadot Health Centre II, and the Reception Centre Clinic, to implement comprehensive health programs in the project year 2016.
The project in planning shall ensure that 13,430 children < 5 y/o and 2,523 pregnant mothers will receive regular vaccinations, routine antenatal care including foliate and iron supplementation, and preventive treatment for malaria, 29,644 school children will receive regular preventive health education, de-worming, and vitamin A supplementation through school-based health programs, 12,614 women of childbearing age will be targeted for reproductive health services, and 29,644 primary school students >12 y/o and teachers will benefit from HIV/AIDS awareness trainings.
Full Report
Results &
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Operational Context
Continued Health Services
The proposed project shall be implemented in Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement as part of the emergency transition to development for South Sudanese refugees, while benefiting other mixed nationalities as well. Health services will be provided through the established health centers, namely Panyadoli Health Centre III, Panyadoli Hills Health Centre II, and the Reception Centre Clinic and community-based health care supporting both refugees and the host community.
Service Indicators
Stable Refugee Population
By the end of September 2016, records show: a 0.1 crude mortality rate, 0.2 under-five mortality rate, 100% access to primary, secondary, and tertiary health care, 1.2 hospital utilization rate, 1:64 consultations per clinician per day, 17.1% immunization dropout rate, and a 44% malaria prevalence rate. Complete ANC coverage was at 90, BCG coverage was at 64.4, polio coverage was at 56.3, DPT coverage was at 56.3, and measles coverage was at 96.1, while the contraceptive prevalence rate is currently at 54.
Strengthening Service Components
Curative and Preventive
In summary, RMF has envisaged a strategy to strengthen both the curative and preventive service components of health through recruiting staff, equipping health facilities, and extending preventive services from static units directly to beneficiaries with limited access to the health facilities through support of integrated outreaches covering immunization, antenatal care, HCT, family planning, and health education.
Pregnant Mothers and Children
Providing Routine Care
Specifically, 13,430 children < 5 y/o and 2,523 pregnant mothers will receive regular vaccinations, routine antenatal care including foliate and iron supplementation, and preventive treatment for malaria. 29,644 schoolchildren will receive regular preventive health education, deworming, and vitamin A supplementation through school-based health programs.
UNHCR-Supported Trainings
Building the RMF Staff
Through UNHCR-supported trainings, the proposed project shall build the capacity of RMF staff in areas of Results Based Management (RBM), counseling and client handling, case management and code of conduct, among other trainings that deemed necessary.
Implementing Partner UNHCR
Providing Program Support
During the period under review, the UNHCR provided program support towards RMF intervention: first, through provision of financial support, and second, through technical guidance on program issues. Thus, the support in general helped RMF to implement the planned interventions with minimal difficulty.
Background
& Objectives
Background
The project has been implemented in Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement as part of the emergency response to the South Sudanese refugee influx. Health services are provided through the established health centers: Panyadoli Hills Health Centre II, Panyadoli Health Centre III, Nyakadot Health Centre II, and the Reception Centre Clinic with community-based care supporting both the refugee and host community.
Funding is provided by UNHCR to aid the influx of refugees and asylum seekers into Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement. The number of refugees is projected to increase. This is due to the political instability in South Sudan, as the cease-fire agreement signed in Ethiopia has not yielded peace as anticipated.
Real Medicine Foundation (RMF) has hired a manager who is responsible for the overall implementation and coordination of planned interventions, whereas OPM and UNHCR do oversight functions. Activities are planned, coordinated, and reviewed on a weekly, monthly and quarterly basis through coordination meetings chaired by OPM at the settlement level.
Objectives
- Emergency operations
- Care and maintenance of refugees and asylum seekers in Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement through the delivery of quality health care services
- Ensure optimal access to reproductive health and HIV/AIDS services
More
Photos
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Numbers
Served
An estimated 40,000 nationals living within the settlement and the surrounding communities who continue to receive services at our health facilities.
Overall, the 63,072 target population will have ready access to quality curative services through the established health units by the end of 2016.
Success
Stories
RMF’s Impact
Continued Support in 2017
Since 2008, RMF has paid (and continues to pay) $7,000/month ($84,000/year) towards health, social services, education, and vocational training sectors in Kiryandongo. In 2017, RMF will continue supporting the program with the following:
- Quarterly provision and support of medical supplies at Panyadoli Health Center III
- Paying staff salaries for 1 Data Clerk, 3 Cleaners, 2 Compound Caretakers, and 1 Guard for Panyadoli Health Centre III
- Renovation of the health units i.e. painting and window/door nets
- Payment of annual end-of-year incentives to all Panyadoli Health Centre III staff
- Direct financial support of schools in the settlement (Panyadoli Secondary School, Can Rom and Arnold Memorial Primary Schools, and Daystar and Beth Cole Nursery Schools)
- Scholastic material support to Panyadoli Secondary School, Can Rom and Arnold Memorial Primary Schools in the settlement
- Latrines built at Arnold Primary School
- Provision of national examination fees for students at Panyadoli Secondary School
- Equating of foreign candidates’ academic papers to the Ugandan model, enabling them to register for Ugandan national exams
- Operation of Panyadoli Vocational Training Institute (PVTI) at Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement
- Support of events celebrated at the camp: World Refugee Day, International Women’s Day, World AIDS Day, Day of the African Child, etc.
- Support to Kiryandongo District Local Government during mass campaigns
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