Fahiza Begum, Medical Volunteer

Volunteer for Uganda Empowers

During the summer of 2017, Fahiza Begum offered her medical knowledge and expertise to serve women and children in our communities. You can too! Volunteer for Uganda Empowers and join us in the fight against HIV and AIDS in Uganda.

At Uganda Empowers, our strength is geared by volunteers and partners locally and overseas. We are very pleased that Uganda Volunteer for Peace (UVP) accepted our call for partnership by placing Fahiza Begum with us. Her impact will always remain and be honoured and remembered. We are a rural charity that runs prevention activities and provides care for people infected with, or affected by HIV/AIDS, especially vulnerable children and women.

Activities that Fahiza involved in during her service in our community.

• Joining the nurses and counsellors in home visiting programs
• HIV screening during community outreaches
• Working in public drug distribution clinics to support clinicians to provide AIDS therapy and handle other general health cases
• Conduct Spelling Bee competitions among public Primary schools to improve pupil’s ability to communicate and find their self-esteem.
• Community mobilization and approaching local leaders to engage in Uganda Empowers’ programs
• Editing Uganda Empowers’ documents
• Helping to arrange and collect data during community outreach or on clinic days.
• Drafting work plans
• Joining the Village Saving groups training team to empower women
• Supporting Uganda Empowers’ Solar project during community promotions.

Fahiza was also able to:

• To meet two Local youth football clubs that is Kyawagonya FC and Kyengera FC
• At the host family, Fahiza taught them how to cook spigatti (maclon) and she also learnt a lot about Ugandan traditional cooking methods.
• She was able to learn some Luganda language and in-exchange she also taught basic English word to members of the host family.
• Time management, Fahiza installed a spirit of managing time among UE staffs

Considered challenges and possible solutions.

• Meals: The food both at host family and in local hotels was very strange to Fahiza, very salty, not prepared at UK standard time nor specific Ugandan time, that is to mean you can have breakfast at 9am, 11am or anytime. Because Fahiza was very open, she disclosed the challenge and we started to prepare food to her UK desired standard time which we food easy and possible.
• Water: Locally we used pond water for both domestic use and animal consumption which seemed un safe for Fahiza, she talked about it and the Host family was able to harvest rain water, boiled it for both drinking and shower. Which we found safe and easy for our visitor and ourselves.
• Bathrooms/toilets: Fahiza didn’t expect flashing toilets but at least a moderate standard, this was the opposite when she reached at the host family. We encourage her to bear with the situation, promised her that the hole-toilet is safe, all we did was covering it and made sure it is clean always.

In the future, we hope to improve and learn more from Fahiza’s recommendations so that we can perfectly qualify to host even more volunteers and interns from UVP and elsewhere.

Highlights from Fahiza’s Volunteer Experience

On her way from UVP office to the host organization, Fahiza stopped to pose for a photo at the Equator (the sun line) in Masaka region.

Fahiza kindly sharing a gift of sweet to community kids.

Milly, a trainer of the sustainable livelihood program reading a report to Fahiza before members of Kanyogoga Village Saving and Loaning women group. In her words, Fahiza thanked the women for standing brave to control their financial income and encouraged them to invite other members to join their association.

Fahiza talking a blood sample for HIV testing from a young mother during a community medical outreach at Kalagala Village.

During a home visiting session, Fahiza appreciates Cissy for accepting to adhere on AIDS antiretroviral therapy and remind her to follow the drug chart for the TB pills. Cissy is among Uganda Empowers’ children who are born with HIV and she is an orphan staying with a step mother.

Fahiza buying a tomato from Milly a young mother of 2 kids who was forced into early marriage and acquired HIV. Uganda Empowers enrolled her early on treatment during the 1st pregnancy and she was able to deliver HIV-free babies.UE also supported her to open-up a local vegetable shop so that she can earn daily income for herself and the little kids.

After viewing school reports, Fahiza was very pleased with Muzeyi Ramanzan’s academic performance and encouraged him to keep-up the pace. All this happened during a home visiting activity.

Fahiza and Deo conducting a Spelling Bee competition at St. Jude Primary school.

Fahiza awarding exercise books and a mosquito mask to a student who won the Spelling Bee race.

More photos from Fahiza’s volunteer experience.

Note from Matsiko Johnbosco:

After all of our experiences in the field and at the clinics, the hardest moment was when we went out to Nabugabo beach to say ‘bye-bye’ to our beloved sister. It was both a happy farewell event but also a sad moment especially to the host family and close staffs members to see a last eye to Fahiza.

Special thanks to our partners in community development: UVP, Lwengo Health Centre IV, St. Francis Health Centre III, all hosting local councils, the Host family and everyone.

MWEBALE NNYO, NNYO to Fahiza’s UK family and friends for supporting her to come, we are eagerly looking forward to host her again and the rest of you.

– Matsiko Johnbosco, Founder of Uganda Empowers