Counseling for People Living with HIV/AIDS
The support of qualified help and all-embracing companionship is offered in order not to leave the sick person alone in front of the fear of suffering and death.
Medical Care and Home Visits
A medical doctor visits the patients in the centers of MPI every week. The ones who need special care are referred to selected Hospitals and Clinics: the personnel of MPI accompany the patients to facilitate their access to the medical facilities. Sick people are also assisted at home; the support is not only medical and material but aims at rebuilding the patient’s self-esteem and reintegrating him/her as a full member of the family/community.
Antiretroviral Treatment
In the early days of Meeting Point International, ARV drugs were expensive, and in short supply. As international donations arose though and scientific advances made ARV medications affordable, MPI clients have begun now to fully experience the wonder of life. Today, MPI supports 2100 patients, 240 of these are on ARV medications.
Nutrition Training
Nutrition dialogues and training with mothers on how to feed infants, care for the sick and malnourished children, the importance of a balanced diet, and hold demonstrations on how to prepare some of the foods. Through this, they are able to decrease the burden of food borne diseases, fight against malnutrition and related diseases like kwashiorkor; marasmus, and others common in infants and children. This program is very crucial for our HIV/AIDS enrolled patients as it helps boost their immunity through proper nutrition to supplement on their antiretroviral treatment.
Over the years, these training are conducted by Rose Busingye, MPI Exe. Director and also a professional nurse with the help of MPI nurses in MPI Naguru and Kireka cultural centers where groups of 50-55 women (adults and young mothers) in Naguru and Kireka slums attend twice weekly in the respective slums. However due to the current COVID 19 situation, MPI has revised ways to continue this activity through; meeting the women in different small groups of 10-15 people weekly, and individual meetings with the nurses and social workers.
Re-creational Activities
Music and dance, as peculiar expressions of the culture and tradition, are used to enhance the identity of the person and the awareness of belonging to a people. Other activities, such as outings and meetings with significant testimonies, are used to develop the desire for beauty and truth that are aroused in people when they rediscover the value of their own life.
Health Education and Hygiene
Courses in Health Education and Hygiene are regularly held in the slums with the purpose to educate about the value and dignity of life through the care of the person and the environment.
Skill Courses
The aim of these courses is to teach skills through which people can learn activities more suitable for a situation of permanent sickness. This also helps to break the solitude and the perception of uselessness.