
RMF's Implementing Partner Program for UNHCR at Kiryandongo
Real Medicine Foundation signed a tripartite agreement as an official "Implementing Partner" of UNHCR on 1st of July 2014 with the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and OPM to provide health services through the established health centers in Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement namely Panyadoli Hill Health Centre II, Panyadoli Health Centre III, at Reception Centre. Acting as an official Implementing Partner of UNHCR at Kiryandongo, we are now able to expand our already existing support of health programs.
With the Refugee Settlement also receiving services from other partners that bridge the gaps in health service delivery, RMF has made efforts towards streamlining its work with other partners in delivering services especially in the health sector to the refugee community, for instance, being UNHCR’s main IP for the health sector, RMF has spearheaded the joint outreach programme with Concern Worldwide and ACF, the other health partners operating in the settlement. To effectively and efficiently lead and organize our outreach campaigns, RMF has also obtained the outreach plan from InterAid – the community services IP for UNHCR that conducts mostly advocacy campaigns within the communities in order to explore possible ways of integration for both outreaches. Efforts have been made to enhance coordination with the Kiryandongo District Health Department with the first official visit to the office of the DHO and CAO planned for Monday next week with an aim of making the District Health Office and Administration conceptualize the ultimate goal of our programme.
Health Programs
Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement has a total of three health centers which includes; Panyadoli Health Center III, Panyadoli Hills Health Center II and Reception Center (Health Center II). The Refugee Settlement also receives services from other partners that bridge the gaps in health service delivery. For instance community services, environment and livelihood programmes are implemented by InterAid-Uganda; Danish Refugee Council (DRC) for WASH and livelihood; International Rescue Committee (IRC) providing reproductive health services; TPO for mental health; Samaritan Purse-food distribution in collaboration with WFP; ACF and Concern Worldwide for nutrition; Windle Trust for education; AIRD for logistics. UNHCR and OPM conduct oversight function including ensuring that activities are planned coordinated and reviewed on a weekly, monthly and quarterly basis through coordination meetings chaired by OPM at settlement level.
Consultations
Total consultations for the month of August were 5,975.
Referrals
A total of 50 referrals were conducted (10 Nationals, 40 Refugees)
Planned Activities
- Recruitments of the community health promoters (VHTs)
- Procurement of supplementary drugs
- Integrated outreaches (HCT outreaches, Community Sensitizations, Immunizations, Health Education
- Facilitation of authorized staff with DSA.
- Procurement of fuel for programme support.
- Staff trainings (UNHCR code of conduct)
- Training of VHTs on disease surveillance, disease outbreak control team
- Training of HUMCs
Achievements
Recruitment of community health promoters
During August, RMF conducted the selection process to recruit the community health promoters as key contact persons, a total of 50 community members were selected and they are scheduled to be trained by the second week of September.
Procurement of drugs
An assortment of essential drugs were procured during the month, these drugs are among those which were lacking at the health centers.
Facilitation of the programme staff with DSA
During the month of August various staff undertook travel missions while attending to programme activities ranging from meetings, workshops, support supervision and taking emergency referrals in various locations.
Training of VHTs on disease surveillance, disease outbreak control team
The planned training of VHTs (community health promoters) on disease surveillance, disease outbreak team did not take place as planned because RMF was still consulting UNHCR on the trainers for this activities, however UNHCR health technocrats advised that the government has got health workers who are resourceful in this training. RMF has organized these trainings to take place in the second week of September.
Additional trainings under direct implementation like HUMCs and UNHCR Code of Conduct never took place either since UNHCR technical team was caught up with other engagements. However, there is a planned orientation of RMF core staff on the current health programme cycle scheduled for the last week of September; it is our considered view that training of RMF staff on UNHCR Code of Conduct and also training of HUMCs can be accommodated the same week.
Procurement of fuel for ambulance;
During the month a total of 616.1 litres of diesel were procured to support programme activities like referrals, coordination and outreaches.
Mapping of outreach sites;
RMF conducted the mapping exercise for conducting the outreaches, the result of this exercise brought on board additional four outreach sites; 1. Kaleria – close to 10 Kms from Panyadoli Hills Health Center II, 2, Omaniala post and Center one both 5 kilometers from Panyadoli Hills Health Center II. 3. Nyakadot – Near Bweyale Town Council. These are in addition to the five traditional sites which include; Magamaga, Arua Road, Reception Center, and Bidong, Panyadoli Hills Health Center II ceases to be an outreach point as it has built capacity to conduct routine static immunizations with the presence of the RMF medical team.
Conducted integrated outreaches;
RMF rolled out its first outreaches in the second week of August, these outreaches covered all the planned outreach sites, services offered covered immunization, HCT, ANC, health education with topics on family planning, and also significant messages being passed on to the communities in sexual and gender based violence as a cross cutting issue.
Meeting with the DHO to enhance on coordination;
RMF held a meeting with the DHO in the office of the settlement assistant commandant with a follow up meeting scheduled at Kiryandongo District to make the district health office and administration conceptualize the ultimate goal of our programme.
Participation in Refugee Relocation Exercise;
OPM/UNHCR relocated the refugees who have been staying at the reception center for over one month to cluster G, in Ranch 37. RMF’s medical Nurse with ambulance was present throughout the relocation process, I was present as well. No incident of sickness realized. Cluster G in Ranch 37 is 3 kilometers from Magamaga – one of our outreach sites.
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
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