Written by Administrator Friday, 30 July 2010 08:03
This was disclosed in a July 19 communication from the regional coordinator Gertrude Wambui, addressed to local organisations like IOM, the Uganda Red Cross, and Mildmay Foundation at hotel Africana in Kampala.
Wambui said the project aims at not only helping orphans but communities that have been affected by HIV/AIDS.
"Through ensuring that these kids have proper lives, it will be easier for society to accept them, and BAA is going to build 7 communal oriented organisations aimed at helping 2500 AIDS orphans in the country at the moment, she said.
When asked about whether BAA plans to extend more help to more AIDS orphans, Wambui commented that focus will soon be extended to other parts of the country come 2011.
"Now, BAA has initially put forward $5 million, but will use $2.5 million to cater for central and western Uganda which are the hardest hit, further explaining that provision for the north and eastern parts of the country will start possibly next year.
BAA is to work hand in hand with the Uganda Red Cross, the Ministry of Health and other local partners to see to it that the project is a success.
BAA's key areas of interest are training and advocacy for child rights, training households of orphans and vulnerable children in income-generating activities and psychological help plus counseling for children and their guardians.
A report compiled by UNICEF entitled "Scorched generation - Sub Saharan Africa 2002 - 09," shows that the number of AIDS orphans is on the increase at 3% each year. In Uganda, key hit areas are central and western parts of the country, and emphasis is on Mpigi, Kampala, Jinja and Kasese.
Ignorance and poverty have been pointed out as the main causant factors of HIV/Aids. The report blames the church in the HIV spread owing to its hostility towards condom use.
In a related activity, the NGO on July 5, 2010 launched a booklet titled "I protect myself and you too" which can be used as a manual by teachers and organisations working to enhance child protection services in the country.
BAA will aid the Mildmay Foundation in Entebbe and the Katosa Sanctuary village in Kabarole. The NGO will embark on campaigns to follow up affected families in remote areas in Masaka, Sembabule, Mpigi, Kisoro, Kanungu, Kabarole, Kyegegwa and Kibale.
In an announcement, Reverend Travis Agaba, the proprietor of Katosa sanctuary village, told the press that he caters for more than 200 orphans and expects to exceed this figure by 20 more in January 2011.
The sanctuary village is funded by well-wishers like the Holy Cross Foundation, BAA, UNICEF and other individual well- wishers from USA and Canada.
Earlier Reverend Agaba, presented a report on the findings of a survey titled "having knowledge of the circumstances, experiences and barriers facing adolescents in Uganda."
The study revealed that while the health ministry estimates 19% children countrywide are HIV/AIDS orphaned, the vulnerability rate as it stands is at 56% due to poverty, ignorance and civil war like the past foot prints of the ADF in western Uganda.
Bittman Africa Aid is part of Bittman Corp, an Australian pharmaceutical Corporation owned by Sir Edward Renee 78. His business empire stretches to over 32 countries globally mainly English speaking and Cantonese (Asia).
Sir Edward is credited for funding the Steadman coral reef project at the coast of Newzealand and building over 500 housing units in Kigali to help the 1994 Rwandan genocide victims in 2000.
By Timothy Kihumuro blog comments powered by Disqus
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