The United States this week donated US$15 million to a religious body for HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment programmes in Uganda.
The US Agency for International Development (USAID), with funding from the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, will provide the money over three years to the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU) for HIV/AIDS programmes.
The IRCU, a coalition of the five largest religious institutions in Uganda, was formed in 2001 in order to jointly respond to development challenges of common concern, including the AIDS pandemic.
According to Alyson Grunder, public affairs officer at the US Embassy in the capital, Kampala, the new funding "will enable IRCU to greatly expand HIV/AIDS services to local communities through its coordinated network of faith-based health units, nongovernmental organisations, churches and mosques".
"The health units affiliated with IRCU - currently offering over 40 percent of healthcare services in Uganda - will deliver the clinical components of the programme," she added. Grassroots faith-based groups and religious institutions will also play a major role in expanding home-based care services.
IRCU will mobilise and train volunteers to facilitate the provision of intermediate HIV/AIDS care, support for antiretroviral treatment adherence, and referrals for specialised care.
The US Agency for International Development (USAID), with funding from the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, will provide the money over three years to the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU) for HIV/AIDS programmes.
The IRCU, a coalition of the five largest religious institutions in Uganda, was formed in 2001 in order to jointly respond to development challenges of common concern, including the AIDS pandemic.
According to Alyson Grunder, public affairs officer at the US Embassy in the capital, Kampala, the new funding "will enable IRCU to greatly expand HIV/AIDS services to local communities through its coordinated network of faith-based health units, nongovernmental organisations, churches and mosques".
"The health units affiliated with IRCU - currently offering over 40 percent of healthcare services in Uganda - will deliver the clinical components of the programme," she added. Grassroots faith-based groups and religious institutions will also play a major role in expanding home-based care services.
IRCU will mobilise and train volunteers to facilitate the provision of intermediate HIV/AIDS care, support for antiretroviral treatment adherence, and referrals for specialised care.
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
Share this article