On 2nd August 2022, members of Rotary EClub Global donated drugs to Reach Out Mbuya Community Health Initiative Mbuya to help in the treatment of HIV. The donations included some laboratory items and medicines like antibiotics, pain killers, steroids, vitamins among others.
While touring the facility at the triage point, clinic and the children’s play center, the team was amazed at the fact that ROM provides her clients with a holistic approach of care, where in addition to HIV testing, care and treatment, a lot more services are offered. These include immunization, Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission, Sexually Transmitted Infections, Tuberculosis screening and treatment, gender-based violence, and entrepreneurship skills among others.
The Executive Director of Reach Out Mbuya Community Health Initiative Ms. Josephine Kaleebi thanked Rotary Club for the donation. She said, “We thank you Rotary for always donating to us and supporting our economic empowerment strategies. These drugs are very important and will take us a long way.” She also expressed concern that on many occasions, HIV positive patients come to ROM with non-HIV challenges, but sometimes we even fail to give them first aid because the required drugs are not available.
She further explained that when ROM started the integration of Non-Communicable Diseases, there was great improvement, although in some situations when clients are referred to more established clinics, they still do not get the drugs.
She also expressed concern that on many occasions, HIV positive patients come to ROM with non-HIV challenges, but sometimes we even fail to give them first aid because the required drugs are not available.
Pleased with how ROM is steadily transforming the lives of People Living and affected with HIV, the Rotary team promised further engagements with ROM, and also suggested that there is need for institutions, with Guidance from the Ministry of Education, to always collaborate for better service delivery.
