Good nutrition, health experts say, is a vital tool in boosting a person's immunity and thereby keeping diseases at bay. Now, MP Uganda, the money lending and financial services company this week announced they will come to the aid of people living with HIV/Aids by providing them with good food.

Officials at Alive Medical Services, the Namuwongo-based health service provider who are cooperating with MP Uganda told The Sunrise that the credit institution has pledged to set aside some Ushs100 million towards a countrywide community social responsibility campaign in which they will provide food to people suffering from Aids.

While announcing their campaign at Alive Medical Services (AMS) clinic in Namuwongo - a Kampala Suburb, MP officials said the campaign will kick off in February 2010 and is expected to cover 1,500 HIV/AIDS patients currently on anti-retroviral treatment.

Dr. Pasquine Ogunsanya, the Medical Director of Alive Medical Services (AMS), hailed MP donation as a good gesture that will raise awareness about the difficulties faced by people living with HIV/Aids.

He added that the donation will greatly boost the health of their patients and help in enabling Anti-retroviral drugs work more effectively for the patients since good and timely feeding is a necessary pre-condition before one takes ARVs.

"Nutrition support is a key element of the comprehensive care at Alive Medical Services (AMS). ARVs medication cannot be taken without food; majority of patients need nutritional support and currently 500 police families are already on nutritional support," said Dr. Pasquine.

AMS prides itself in providing comprehensive HIV/AIDS treatment, preventation of mother-to-child transmissions, voluntary counseling and testing services, nutritional support and related services to residents of Namuwongo - one of the most densely populated and poorest areas in Kampala city.

The facility on average gives 320 monthly voluntary testing and counseling and takes 100 new patients into their care every month.

Agnes Apea of National Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS (NACWOLA) Uganda donated Ushs2m to the clinic towards the purchase of an Ambulance while Dr. Zainabu Akol an official from the Ministry of Health contributed Ushs1m towards the same cause.

By Daniels N.Tatya

 

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