In The News

Accordia Observes World AIDS Day

December 1, 2009, Washington, DC: On World AIDS Day, Accordia Global Health Foundation would like to acknowledge the incredible commitment and dedication of the thousands of healthcare workers, community advocates, and patient volunteers that are on the front lines – fighting a pandemic that has resulted in more than 25 million deaths and infected 60 million people worldwide.

Every day, we hear about the severe shortage of qualified healthcare workers in Africa, where an estimated 23 million people are currently living with HIV/AIDS. Less often do we celebrate those who have dedicated their lives to this cause – many of whom have been personally impacted by the disease.

We would like to take this opportunity to share a few of their stories. These stories originate from Accordia’s flagship program, the Infectious Diseases Institute in Kampala, Uganda, where over 5,000 healthcare workers from 27 different African countries have been trained, where patient volunteers are empowered to spread messages of prevention and hope, and where advances in research, training methods, and clinical care are developed and tested for broad impact across the region.

There are thousands of stories such as these that bring inspiration and hope to a situation that is improving, but remains one of the most serious issues of our time.

On World AIDS day, Accordia renews its commitment to providing the tools, the environment, and the opportunity for individuals like these to succeed in their life’s mission. Our experience has been that this investment is leveraged several times over as those that we touch return to their home communities and teach, treat, and inspire others.

We salute our many colleagues and ask you to join us in supporting their efforts to be a part of the solution.

IDI physician Dr. Alex Muganzi Muganga has seen first-hand the devastation that AIDS can cause and was inspired to make a difference for his fellow Ugandans.

Alex lost his father, mother, and younger sister to AIDS. Orphaned at age nineteen, it seemed as though all the doors to Alex’s future had been closed. However, Alex’s determination and outstanding performance in school led him down a more fortunate path. He received a scholarship from the district administration to pay the necessary fees to continue his education at the high school level. He was then awarded a government scholarship to attend Makerere University, where he studied medicine.

Alex wanted to use his medical skills and knowledge to join in the global fight against the deadly pandemic of HIV/AIDS. After attending the HIV/AIDS training course at IDI, he decided that IDI was the best place for him to contribute.

Since joining IDI four years ago, Alex has served as a senior medical officer and head of prevention activities. On average, he sees thirty patients a day and says he is “happy to be able to make a difference in the lives of the thousands of people… treated at IDI.” Alex hopes his example will inspire millions of others around the world to join in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Charles Kaggwa Kasumba grew up in Makindye, a suburb of Kampala, with fourteen sisters and brothers and two loving parents. Charles lives with HIV today; four of his siblings have died from the disease. When Charles found out he was HIV positive he was sure he would die. He endured five years of self-stigma and isolation before being referred to IDI, where he received the physical and emotional care he needed.

After his health was restored, Charles became the Music, Dance and Drama Trainer at IDI. The Music, Dance, and Drama Group, which consists of twenty-five individuals under IDI’s care, has a repertoire of songs and skits with messages of prevention and hope that they perform for schools, communities, and at the IDI clinic. Today, Charles is leading a series of education and advocacy campaigns throughout the Kampala community that have reached more than 6,000 people.

Dr. Olivia Kharono, a clinical officer at the Joint Clinical Research Center, completed training in advanced HIV/AIDS care and prevention at IDI. Clinical officers, nurses, and other mid-level practitioners outnumber doctors by 6:1 in resource-limited settings; therefore, they are increasingly taking on tasks conventionally assigned to doctors.

“At IDI, I learned to really take time with patients; to put down the pen and really listen. And I have used the training to pass on information to my colleagues. We are task-shifting what we know to others so we can manage more activities. In that way, the whole health center improves.”

Of her patients, Olivia said, “There are many poor people here who survive on less than two dollars a day. We treat quite a few soldiers and most of our patients are women, widows, and children who fear disclosure. There remains a huge stigma in our community where women hide their medication underneath their baskets. We are their only hope.”