Greater Masaka Regional Parent and Community Leaders’ Development Public Dialogues (PACOD) 2019-2021

Greater Masaka Regional Parent and Community Leaders’ Development Public Dialogues

 (PACOD) 2019-2021

MASAKA KP HIV Prevention & Support Organization (MAHIPSO) 

Background and History

We started our work as a mobilization entity. We have worked together with Kampala City-based organizations as the mobilizers for different interventions ranging from circumcision;  voter education; immunization; and other services. In 2015, we mobilized young persons to access HIV testing and engage in World AIDS Day; we mobilized 50 young males to attend Safe Male Medical  Circumcision sessions; 100 girls to attend to hepatitis immunization. In 2016, we were part of the South Uganda region wide mobilization of communities to engage in immunization drives; with time we have identified vulnerable transgender persons with whom we have been involved more than any other category. We have experienced a lack of prevention commodities in Greater Masaka Region; a lack of Information, education and communication materials on Life Planning Skills, young persons specific HIV Care and Prevention information or services. We are now writing this proposal to enable us establish a young persons friendly Resource Center and engage community leaders in dialogue sessions to accept their Transgender children. This followed a spate of home evictions, disowning, abandonment, assault, imprisonment and brutality.

Vision:

Using secular, spiritual and  religious freedom to mobilize, promote expression and quality life for young persons. 

Mission:

Establish Greater Masaka Regional young persons friendly Resource Center to address a paucity of Sex-young persons-related services in Greater Masaka Region which serves South Uganda.

Theme: Parent and Community Leaders’ Development Public Dialogues (PACOD)

Increased social inclusion: Uganda has increased tightening the Public Order Management Act (POMA). So, all forms of social meetings must be registered, notified and given permission. We use music, dance, drama and gardening to meet our members.  We hope to increase reach out social events to provide meeting or get together opportunities for young persons in Greater Masaka Area three times a month.

Cascading into Core focus: Provide support for groups to meet frequently under the different music, dance, drama and gardening themes. We shall document and influence rates of acceptance; build collective voices to advocate for inclusion; and build and coordinate long-term strategies to strengthen inclusion for transgender and sex workers. The following are our strategies:

Advocacy: Increase coverage using social media platforms by writing, talking or showcasing information,  education and communication around life preserving practices, announce health events in the region, mobilize communities for development, build resilient viable groups and network with leaders to address discrimination and violence

Documentation: Engage in generating, disaggregating, and analyzing data on public opinion and themes directly affecting life of young persons in rural conservative Uganda districts (rates, what messaging generates change, understanding of lived realities of young persons—particularly the most marginalized); and tracking and analyzing media representation.

Training: Organize, plan and conduct outcome-based training, including for media coverage of all parents/leaders, with whom we can advocate for specific changes as well as catalyze social inclusion plans

Objective 1 Activity: Pay Rent

Activity: Rent

Activity: Manage a resource center

Activity: Provide drop-in services/space

Objective 2 Activity: Recruit and maintain support staff 

Activity: Front Office Manager and Drop-in staff

Activity: Provide Services at a friendly space

Objective 3 Activity: Office Administration 

Activity: Deal with documentation, filing and record keeping

Activity: Movement building

Activity: Engage in other administrative activities

Objective 4 Activity: Music, Dance, Drama and Gardening Practices

Activity: Rent space

Activity: Conduct practices

Activity: Gardening

Objective 5 Activity: Social Outreaches

Activity: Conduct outreaches

Activity: Transportation and logistics

Objective 6 Activity: Social Media

Activity: Documentation & Update

Activity: Internet connectivity

Activity: Conferences

Source: Google

Masaka KP HIV Prevention And Support Organization HCT Activity In Nnyendo Town

MAHIPSO has conducted an HCT focusing on sex workers (Female, Male and Trans Sex workers) in Nyendo and neighboring areas. Registered and registering new sex workers to be worked upon went on well.

The attendees were youths, various population groups including sex workers.

We carried out one on one counseling sessions. These involved meeting a trained health personnel, distributed Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials to them as well as Prevention Prophylactics such as condoms and lubricants.

HIV testing was carried out by professional health workers from MARPI Mulago and Masaka Referral Hospital.

As the #thinkPositive Campaign goes on, we always encourage all population groups especially sex workers to regularly  test themselves for HIV and use protection.

At MAHIPSO our goal is to:

   1. Reach to all sex workers(Female,Male amd Trans sex workers)  in rural areas.

   2. Fight against stigma and discrimination amongst sex workers and other sexual minorities.

   3. Carry out HIV/AIDS awareness.

   4. Fight against Gender Based Violence against women and sex workers in general.

   5. To advocate for sex workers rights' & sexual minorities' rights and health goes on.

#Gender#MAHIPSO#SayNoToStigma#ThinkPositive#Inclusion4All

We are grateful for the support of Most At Risk Populations' Society in Uganda (MARPS in Uganda) under which we are members. For those who would like to read more about MARPS in Uganda you can follow this link as well. 

Addressing Violence Faced By Sex Workers

1.    Female, Male and Transgender sex workers face high levels of violence, stigma,discrimination and other human rights violations. Violation against sex workers is associated with inconsistent condom use or lack of condom use, and with increased risk of STI & HIV infection. Violence also prevents sex workers from accessing HIV information and services.
Male, female and transgender sex workers may face violence because of stigma associated with sex work, which in most settings is criminalized, or due to other factors. Most violence against sex workers is a manifestation of gender inequality and discrimination directed at women, or at men & transgender individuals who do not because of their feminine appearance or the way they express their sexuality.

2.    BUT the violence against sex workers can be addressed in different ways such as;
   
      * Promote the full protection of sex workers' human rights.
      * Reject interventions based on the motion of rescue & rehabilitation.
      * Promote gender inequality.
      * Respect the right of sex workers to make informed choices about their lives, which may involve not reporting or seeking redress for violence, not seeking violence-related services, or continuing in an abusive relationship.

3.    BUILDING THW CAPACITY OF SEX WORKERS.

Several kinds of activities build sex workers' knowledge of their rights in relation to sex work and violence, & their confidence to claim these rights. These include;
    * Training & sensitizing sex workers about sex-work related laws & their human rights. ( Building the capacity of sex workers.)
    * Community empowerment.
    * Advocating for reforms.
    * Fostering police accountability.( working with the police has been a key element to efforts to reduce violence against sex workers.)
    * Promoting the safety & security of sex workers.
    * Providing health services to sex workers who experience violence.

#Inclusion4All
#UDon'tNeedToBePositiveToThinkPositive.

Follow us on our Facebook platform;  https://www.facebook.com/mahipso.

We Are Proud of Masaka City and Masaka Regional Referral Hospital, says the MAHIPSO Executive

We at MAHIPSO, bring you a glimpse of Masaka. We hope you will enjoy this marvelous place.

Greater Masaka Region is comprised of Masaka, Kalungu, Lwengo, Kyotera, Rakai, Lyantonde, Bukomansimbi, Kalangala and Ssembabule districts. It is served by a main town called Masaka. Masaka Municipality sits on 58 square kilometres and has 11 streets and three divisions including Katwe-Butego, Kimanya-Kyabakuza and Nyendo-Ssenyange divisions. It has 54 zones. It is located in southern Uganda, situated about 80 miles (130 km) southwest of Kampala at an elevation of 4,300 feet (1,310 metres). Roads connect it with Kalungu, Kyotera, Rakai, Lyantonde, Bukomansimbi, Kalangala and Ssembabule and Mbarara districts. It is an important cultural, educational, residential and commercial centre in a rich coffee-growing and farming area. Its industries produce processed meat and fish, beverages, footwear, furniture, bakery products, glass, clay products, and milled grain. The town was the site of Fort Masaka. About 24 miles (39 km) to the east is the small Lake Victoria port of Bukakata. Pop. (2008 est.) 71,700. For more: See Masaka website

According to a Uganda Daily, Masaka Town is about to gain City Status. Authorities in Masaka Municipality want the administrative boundaries of the town expanded in pursuit of a city status. According to Mr Godfrey Kayemba, the municipality mayor, the proposed expansion is one of the priorities lined up in his new term of office. Speaking to Daily Monitor on Monday, Mr Kayemba said the expansion will involve annexing four more parishes of Kitengeesa in Buwunga Sub-county, Kirimya in Kabonera Sub-county, Ssamariya in Buwunga Sub-county and Kalagala in Mukungwe Sub-county into the municipality. For more: See story: Masaka-town-expands-to-get-city-status.

We are so happy that the recent Masaka District Local Government Womens’ day celebration on 20th April 2018 at Masaka Liberation square was under the theme "Empowerment of rural women and girls: Opportunities and Challenges.” This is in line with our own Partner Violence Awareness drives.

Masaka Regional Referral Hospital works is in line with different international, national and regional objectives including: Masaka District Health Sector's Goal; ”To provide good quality services to the people of Masaka District to make them attain a good standard of health so that they can live a healthy and productive life.”

The Objective; “To reduce the morbidity and mortality from the major causes of ill health and premature deaths and disparities therein”. The Section is Headed by the District Health Officer, Dr. Stuart Musisi. Sub-sections include Health Promotion and Education under Dinah Kakande-Senior Health Educator, Health Inspectorate and Environmental Health under Kewaza Dauda-Principal Health Inspector, Drug Inspectorate under Okot Peter-District Assistant Drug Inspector, Health Management Information System headed by Martine Sseruyange-Biostatistician, Maternal and Child health under Batenga B. Kiyingi-Ass. DHO/MCH, Medical Supplies and Logistics headed by Nambalire Feiruz-Ass. Inventory Mgt. Officer and TB/Leprosy supervised by Niyonzima J. F-DTLS.

We hope you will visit us and enjoy the hospitality. When you do also come and we take you around our extremely beautiful region. Visit this site for map of Masaka Area.

Mayor of Masaka

Masaka Green parks

Masaka Pupils

Masaka Frams

Masaka grazing land

Clinics

Tropic inn

Brovad Hotel

Brovad Hotel

Banda Lodges

Brovad Hotel Room

Masaka on the map

MAHIPSO, a Uganda Youth-Led Organization Part of A Larger Gathering at ICASA 2017

We at MAHIPSO, believe in working hand in hand with so many other actors as we fight HIV. We thank all of you, our friends for supporting us. We thank everyone who made sure, put in that extra effort, and ensured we are part of ICASA 2017.

MAHIPSO, started as a Younger People Peer Education and Support Club. We later engaged in mobilizing communities to donate blood. As we canvassed South Uganda rural communities, we realized there was a need for HIV Prevention and Care targeting Younger People. We made up our mind to tackle all three issues. I want to be honest, it is not easy. We have had threats, fears, denials for sponsorship and in two cases, we were told by funders that they approached people supposed to recommend us and these people wrote negatively about us. We did not receive funding and we never gave up. We have never closed, we work on terribly shoestring budget but we are grateful to friends who believe in us. 

MAHIPSO serves Greater Masaka region: Masaka, Ssembabule, Kalangala, Lwengo, Rakai, Kyotera, Kalungu, Bukomansimbi.

MAHIPSO, has since 2015 made several community outreaches and currently we have connected 25 younger people living with HIV for ART.

We are so glad we shall attend this ICASA 2017.

ICASA 2017 conference theme “Africa: Ending AIDS-delivering differently” engages the whole continent and all stakeholders in the post SDG framework, where sustainability of the response in reaching 90, 90, 90 of UNAIDS will not be possible if Human rights are not key priority for a new vision of leadership in the context of strengthening the application of science based evidence.

The 19th ICASA is an opportunity to renew this global commitment by drawing the world’s attention to the fact that the legacy is now under threat as a result of the global economic downturn. This year’s ICASA is an opportunity for the international community, and all Africans, to join efforts in committing to achieving an AIDS-free Africa. Given the urgency of the issue we are anticipating 7 000 -10 000 of the world’s leading scientists, policy makers, activists, PLHIV, government leaders – as well as a number of heads of state and civil society representatives – will be joining the debate on how to achieve this vision.

Follow us via our social media handles: Facebook and Instagram.

For further on ICASA 2017: 

http://icasa2017cotedivoire.org/

https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=icasa%202017%20c%C3%B4te%20d%27ivoire

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