Without a strong social support system, antiretroviral
therapy (ARV) cannot succeed. That is why the psychosocial unit at BIPAI Uganda
ensures that social factors do not undermine the success of a client’s ARVs.
This team identifies, supports and helps retains children and adolescents in
care.
The psychosocial unit intervenes or supports families in
cases of child neglect, abandonment, lack of basic needs, poor adherence,
disclosure, marital problems and children with special needs. They also provide
much-needed pre-test and post-test counseling sessions for both individuals and
families. In addition to this, ongoing counseling sessions are held for all
clients during their scheduled visits.
This department also organizes two educational camps,
Sanyuka and Power of Hope. Campers shared experiences and advise one another on
how to manage life with HIV and participate in arts and crafts.
Links to child services
BIPAI Uganda maintains working relationships with many
child-focused organizations in order to support its young clients with special
needs education, disability and psychological problems. Organizations such as
Steven Jota, A-Z Children’s Charity, Noah’s Ark, Uganda Children’s Center,
AIDCHILD, Missionaries of the Poor and Cherish Uganda Entebbe Road have helped
support some of our children in need.
These organizations have helped BIPAI Uganda resettle
children in orphanages, receive specialized counseling and given scholarships
for primary education scholarships and vocational skills training.
Identification of HIV Infected Children
The identification of HIV infected children and their family
members is one of the core activities of the psychosocial unit. This is mainly done through targeted
Voluntary Counseling and Testing campaigns; HIV screening in orphanages and
child centers and Know Your Child’s Status campaign (KYCS). KYCS is a program to
mobilize HIV positive adults in rural areas to bring the children in their care
to a special event for HIV counseling, testing and eventual enrollment into
care.
This team looks forward to expanding its services to:
- The start of a project with Child Fund International that will improve follow-up and support
of HIV infected and affected children in Busia, Pader, Masindi and Kitgum.
- Widening our spectrum of referrals for client needs such as disability, special needs
education, school fees, nutritional support, etc.
- Partnering with organizations that support income-generating activities to support clients’
needs.
- Collaborating with more child-centered agencies to reach more children in need of HIV counseling
and testing.