Friends Of Reach Outs Hiv-Aids Africa Initiative Inc

THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION IS TO PROMOTE, SUPPORT AND PROVIDE GRANTS TO AFRICAN ORGANIZATIONS SERVING THE HEALTH CARE AND SOCIAL SERVICES NEEDS OF AFRICANS AFFECTED BY HIV AND AIDS INCLUDING EDUCATIONAL GRANTS TO THEIR DEPENDENT CHILDREN AND PROMOTION OF INCOME GENERATING ACTIVITIES.

DURING 2021 FRIENDS OF REACH OUTS (FORO) FOCUS FOR ITS SUPPORT WAS RAYS OF HOPE HOSPICE JINJA, A NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION FOUNDED IN AUGUST 2005, WHICH OPERATES IN THE BUSOGA REGION AN AREA OF 3800 SQ. MILES AND ONE OF THE POOREST IN UGANDA. FRIENDS OF REACH OUT PROVIDED GRANTS FOR A TOTAL OF $174,474. IN ADDITION, FORO CHANNELED $6,600 TO REACH OUT MBUYA COMMUNITY HEALTH INITIATIVE FOR THEIR SCHOOL FEE PROGRAM. REACH OUT MBUYA WAS THE FIRST RECIPIENT FOR FOROS ACTIVITIES IN UGANDA MORE THAN 10 YEARS AGO AND A MORE MATURE ORGANIZATION LOCATED IN KAMPALA, UGANDA. FORO ALSO SUPPORTED KAWEMPE HOME CARE, ONE OF ITS EARLY RECIPIENTS IN UGANDA, WITH $39,725 IN SUPPORT OF KHC NEW HOPE CHILDRENS HOSTEL AND TRAINING FOR YOUNG MOTHERS, AN INITIATIVE THAT WILL ALSO BENEFIT THE CLIENTS OF RHHJ. FINALLY, FOR THE FIRST TIME FORO SUPPORTED THE BETHEISDA ORPHANS EDUCATION CENTRE IN TANZANIA WITH $30,000 IN PART TO REPAIR THEIR FACILITIES AND SUPPORT THEIR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. WITH THE SEEDS OF SUPPORT PLANTED BY FORO SINCE 2016, ESPECIALLY FOR THE SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AND THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRENGTHENING, RHHJ HAS STARTED TO GROW INTO A STRONG WELL-MANAGED ORGANIZATION WITH THE HUGE RESPONSIBILITY OF WORKING WITH THE ABSOLUTE POOREST IN THE SOCIETY SUFFERING FROM SEVERE HIV/AIDS OR CANCER. RAYS OF HOPE HOSPICE JINJA IS CURRENTLY THE ONLY PROVIDER OF HOME-BASED PALLIATIVE CARE SERVICES IN THE REGION.A SPECIAL CHALLENGE IN 2021 WAS THE CONTINUED COVID LOCK-DOWN AND ONGOING CURFEW, WHICH REQUIRED ADAPTIONS OF RHHJS KEY OPERATIONS. THE PROGRAM WAS FACED WITH LACK OF FOOD AND DIFFICULTIES ACCESSING MEDICATIONS, WHILE COSTS OF FUEL AND HOSPITAL TREATMENT INCREASED DRAMATICALLY. SPECIAL TRAVEL PASSES WERE ARRANGED FOR THE TEAM, SO THEY COULD VISIT CRITICALLY SICK PATIENTS. OTHERS WERE REACHED THROUGH PHONE CALLS. TRAVEL FOR CANCER PATIENTS WERE ALSO ARRANGED SO THEIR TREATMENT WAS NOT INTERRUPTED.THE GRANTS FROM FORO MET THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES:FACILITATED DIAGNOSTIC TESTS AND TREATMENT OF CLIENTS TREATABLE CONDITIONS SO THAT THEY WILL BE CURED OR IMPROVE SO MUCH IN THEIR GENERAL CONDITION THAT THEY CAN RESUME DAILY ACTIVITIES AND CARE FOR THEIR FAMILIES.PROMOTED EARLY DETECTION OF CERVICAL AND BREAST CANCER THROUGH THE RURAL SCREENING OUTREACHES.MET THE MOST BASIC NEEDS TO REDUCE SUFFERING AMONG THE VERY POOR CLIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIESIN PARTICULAR WITH FOOD AND COMFORT FUNDS, AND MATTRESSES AND BEDDING.PROVIDED IMPROVED CARE TO CLIENTS THROUGH CLOSE FOLLOW-UP FROM TRAINED 80 COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS IN BETWEEN RHHJ VISITSSTRENGTHENED THE ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT OF RHHJ OPERATIONS THROUGH TRAINING OF STAFF IN PALLIATIVE CARE, TECHNOLOGY, ETC. IN ADDITION, RHHJ TRAINED HEALTH CARE WORKERS IN THE BUSOGA REGION IN PROVIDING PALLIATIVE CARE. PROVIDED SUPPORT FOR TRANSPORTATION OF HEALTH WORKERS AND CLIENTS.ALL OF RHHJ CLIENTS ARE VERY SICK, BUT MANY CAN FORTUNATELY BE TREATED, IF ONLY THEY HAD THE MEANS TO DO SO. IN 2021 FORO HAS HELPED 172 PATIENTS GETTING THE TESTING AND TREATMENT THEY NEEDED TO LIVE NORMAL LIVES AGAIN AND NO LONGER AVAIL THEMSELVES OF PALLIATIVE CARE SERVICES. FORO IS PROVIDING FOOD TO NEARLY 120 CLIENT FAMILIES PER MONTH. MATTRESSES AND BLANKETS ARE PROVIDED TO THOSE IN NEED. PATIENTS (161) ALSO RECEIVED A SMALL FINANCIAL GIFT TO HELP WITH BASIC NEEDS. FORO SUPPORTED THE BUILDING OF SEVERAL NEW HOUSES.IN 2021, RHHJ--WITH SUPPORT FROM FRIENDS OF REACH OUT--HELPED 120 CHILDREN (WHOSE PARENT OR THE CHILD ITSELF WAS OR HAD BEEN UNDER FORO CARE) WITH THEIR SCHOOLING NEEDS. THE STUDENTS WERE PROVIDED WITH HOME SELF-STUDY MATERIALS WITH MONTHLY VISITS AND COUNSELING. THE CHILDREN ALSO RECEIVED FOOD AND FACE MASKS. RHHJ GAVE EACH STUDENT AN IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (IPN) TO IMPROVE OUR MONITORING PRACTICES AND HELP DONORS MORE EASILY IDENTIFY THE STUDENTS THEY ARE SUPPORTING AND TRACK THE PROGRAM OF EACH OF THE CHILDREN. IN ADDITION, FORO PROVIDED SCHOOL FEES AND RELATED SUPPORT TO ABOUT 80 CHILDREN THROUGH REACH OUT MBUYA, ALTHOUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM WAS MADE DIFFICULT BY THE CLOSURE OF SCHOOLS BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR PANDEMIC REASONS.