By Ibrahim Kibalama. Community Supervisor
On Tuesday, 9 February, Reach Out Mbuya Community Health Initiative with support from SKAL International Kampala Chapter, a professional organization bringing together all partners in the travel, tourism, and hospitality industries donated foodstuff to the grandmothers of Kasaala Luweero.
ROM also launched houses for 2 grandmothers who needed better shelter for their families.
For the grandmothers visited, majority of whom cannot make it to the health facility, they are offered Home Based Care and are frequently visited by the Community Supporters.
Loneliness and the failure to get their meals on time are some of the challenges these grandmothers face. Therefore, Reach Out Mbuya Community Health Initiative under the elderly project funded by the Stephen Lewis Foundation is improving the livelihoods of elderly women (50+years) affected and infected with HIV/AIDS. The project ensures they live a dignified life as it offers adequate support to the orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) in their care.
To date, Reach Out Mbuya takes care of 1061 grannies among whom 15 are men. At ROM, they are supported with health care, nutrition, food support, and economic empowerment activities for income generation. This has helped them become healthier and provided a sense of belonging to these grannies.
In 2020, ROM supported 105 grandmothers with medical care, 30 households benefited from food support, and 200 grandmothers received practical entrepreneurship sessions that equipped them with the skills to become better managers. Also, between 2020 and February 2021, 4 grandmothers received shelter.
With conditions that come with aging like; sicknesses, and frailness and as parents and grandparents get older, it is important to consider how to take care of grannies. The elderly need proper health care, financial assistance, and good dieting. Many of them in Uganda have been unattended to yet some are the sole providers for their grandchildren.
The bible also calls upon the younger people to support the elderly; Peter 5:5 “In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. All of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.
