Nairobi, Kenya: International Christian Youth Network; MAHIPSO At An International Forum

I am currently attending a conference organized by the International Christian Youth under the International Youth Network. The Network aims at establishing spaces where building capacity for younger persons can come together to learn and share every November.

The event is both a learning and fan filled one. There are all sorts of games from volleyball, athletics, soccer, netball, swimming to music, storytelling, poetry, spelling bee competition, craftwork and oration.

This year’s event is unique in that, we are exploring how to develop our other human dimensions such as: spirituality, interpersonal relations, intrapersonal relations, human rights, sustainable development, governance, and accountability.

As the CEO of MAHIPSO, Got a chance to talk about our history:

MAHIPSO began as a mobilization organization encouraging youths to donate blood; later we were able to identify youths who were leaving with HIV whom we linked to HIV service provision facilities; we also had identified activities to address intimate partner violence. So, we have continued our main activities in these three interventions. We are registered formally with Masaka District Administration as a CBO. Our catchment area: Bukomansimbi, Kalungu, Lwengo, Masaka, Kyotera, Rakai, Kalangala and Ssembabule. We serve the Greater Masaka Region.

Joseph Ssemanda and one of the ICY Convenors in Nairobi, Kenya

The Directors and friends we met at ICY are amazing

The song goes: make new friends while you also keep the old

ICY Poster and Logo

Mentor

Mentorship

Mentorship

One of the Directors

Presenting a paper

Speed making friends

Hanging out with directors

Christened again!

Am so happy

In fact am so fortunate to be working with the best there is

Community time

Learn while you work

Selfie

My presentation

The Five Things We believe In At MAHIPSO

We are God fearing!

God first in everything


We value all people!

The second is the value we have for each and everyone we serve


We hold regular planning meetings!

We believe that meetings help us build a deeper working relationship within our organzation


We share our skills!

We believe that sharing our skills helps us understand the vision and mission of MAHIPSO


We report back to you

In whatever we do, you are the reason why we do it at MAHIPSO

HIV Testing and Treatment at Masaka Liberation Grounds on 13th September 2017

MAHIPSO HIV Testing and Treatment Campaign!!

Come and be part of the HIV Testing and Treatment

Don’t miss it

We shall be at Masaka Liberation Grounds

The date is 13th/09/2017

No gate fee

It is free of charge

Whether you are from:

Kayanja, Lukolo, Katikamu,

Mujuzi, Bunyonyi, Nkoma,

Kalambi, Kaganda, Budda,

Kyanja, Kyabakuza, Kitovu,

Bulando, Kitwe, Masaka Bypass,

Nyendo, Elgin Road, Gayaza, 

Broadway Street, Nalubale Street,

Buddu Street, Hobart Avenue,

Edward Avenue, Speke Drive,

Welcome, Kako, Kadduagala,

Mukoko, Kayunga, Bukalasa, Katigondo,

Villa-Maria, Kitengeesa, Kitenga and all villages

in the Greater Masaka Area

Linking Frequently Asked Questions By Youths in Greater Masaka To Service Interventions

We shall provide you with serialized articles on experiences of youths in Greater Masaka and service delivery.

This time we bring you an article on how we linked the question on HIV and service interventions.

The question: Where in Greater Masaka Region can a persons living with HIV find services to support them in leading quality productive lives?

Remember in Greater Masaka we have: Masaka, Lwengo, Kalungu, Bukomansimbi, Kyotera, Rakai, Ssembabule and Kalangala districts.

The health facilities in Masaka, Lwengo, Kalungu, Bukomansimbi, Kyotera, Rakai, Ssembabule and Kalangala districts are positioned to provide HIV testing and treatment. The term comprehensive HIV services comes into the picture when treatment transitions from a medical to psychosocial level.

Extra psychosocial services may include: engaging in spiritual exploration and practice; doing regular light work; going to school; being part of community activities ranging from clearing the water sources to mobilization for say, immunization. Being HIV positive should not be a reason for you to be isolated or isolate yourself.

It is good to be familiar with other departments other than health in Masaka, Lwengo, Kalungu, Bukomansimbi, Kyotera, Rakai, Ssembabule and Kalangala districts. The simple reason is that, these other departments are involved in the welfare of the general populations. These departments run such services like: fisheries; tree-planting; construction; education to name but a few. If a person is familiar with these departments, it helps this person to plan how to be engaged in productive work and to know about existing opportunities.

We hope these series will help you explore meaningful life in Greater Masaka Region.

MAHIPSO End to Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Drive August 2017 to December 2017

A few weeks back we brought you articles or blogs on violence in our homes or communities. We hope you took time to read through. In Greater Masaka which is comprised of: Rakai, Masaka, Kyotera, Kalungu, Bukomansimbi, Lwengo, Ssembabule and Kalangala) early marriages and alcohol abuse are some of the factors fueling IPV.

James is a coffee buyer in Nninzi, kyotera district. He is 27yrs and currently has three wives in three separate villages. Two of them complained to their friends that James assaults them every time he is drunk. He often blames them of stealing from him and ends up beating them. Jacinta (21yr old, wife No 2 had a miscarriage) when she told her own parents about it, they asked her to go back to her husband. They told her that is what being being a faithful wife entails! Jacinta had to go back to her husband since her own family had sided with the husband. They condoned the harsh treatment and beatings she faced. Unfortunately most people in different communities receive such responses when they try to speak up about IPV.

Causes of Intimate Partner Violence are rarely reported because of the stigma associated with being abused.

IPV is a domestic violence by a spouse or partner in an intimate relationship against the other spouse or partner.

IPV can take a number of forms including physical, verbal, emotional, economic and sexual abuse.

IPV could be blamed on one's childhood but it is not justifiable. If a man beats up a woman(physical abuse) and the women were expected to financially depend on men(often leading to financial abuse) perpetrators of IPV tend to feel the need to control their partner because of low self esteem and failure to control one's feelings, alcoholism, financial dependency and peer influence among other issues.

Victims of IPV should know that they are not alone and that they don't deserve to be abused.

At MAHIPSO, we are collecting data on IPV in Greater Masaka Region and according to our Action plan, we shall engage different community based Dev't officers, the law and community leaders to increase awareness on how abuses can be perpetrated. For instance, people should know that putting hands on another person without consent is assault ! ,People should know that partners should not be beaten just because they didn't iron or wash a given shirt well. 

IPV is an important issue we need to tackle in Greater Masaka Region.This issue is also very central to our understanding of sexuality and power roles in our communities.

Couples should negotiate when and how to have sex. This is called negotiated sex agreements. just because there is flirting, it may not be construed as permission to have sex. partners or spouses should know each other and should treat breaks which renew intimacy. this can be in form of buying each other presents or eating out and verbal apologies.

Communities should come up with anti IPV committees. victims should immediately call on these committees. for our region this is a 24hr intimate partner violence support system. 

MAHIPSO CEO has put up a number to call (+256755711264) and we shall work in partnership with the leaders and security committees to say no to all forms of IPV. All calls are confidential and we guarantee immediate response.

We want to state categorically that we do not discriminate anyone based on orientation, status or standing in community.

We offer support and information to friends, family members and those who seek for our services.

Our aim is to make every person aware of the options so that you can make informed choices as regards IPV.

Who can call us? Anyone experiencing IPV, friends, family and acquaintances of those experiencing IPV and would like to get them professional help.