Sole Hope Inc

OFFERING HOPE, HEALTHIER LIVES, AND FREEDOM FROM FOOT RELATED DISEASES THROUGH EDUCATION, JOBS, AND MEDICAL RELIEF.

OUR 2021 ACTIVITIES IN UGANDA: TUNGA PENETRANS, KNOWN AS JIGGERS, ARE SMALL SAND FLEAS THAT BURROW INTO THE BARE FEET OF THOUSANDS OF UGANDAN CHILDREN WHO OFTEN LIVE THEIR LIVES WITHOUT ADEQUATE FOOTWEAR. ALONG WITH A MISCONCEPTION ABOUT THE CAUSE OF JIGGERS, THE RESULTS INCLUDE INFECTION, GANGRENE, LOSS OF MOBILITY, AND OCCASIONALLY AMPUTATION AND EVEN DEATH. SOLE HOPE IS COMBATING THE JIGGER PROBLEM IN UGANDA IN EIGHT MAJOR DISTRICTS. (1) COMMUNITY CLINICS: EVERY WEEK SOLE HOPE TRANSPORTS A TEAM OF MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, SOCIAL WORKERS, EDUCATORS, AND VOLUNTEERS TO A CLINIC SITE WHERE APPROXIMATELY 150 PATIENTS HAVE THEIR FEET WASHED, INSPECTED, AND JIGGERS TREATED. EACH PATIENT ALSO RECEIVES ONE-ON-ONE EDUCATION AND GOES HOME WITH A PAIR OF SOLE HOPE SHOES. - WORKED IN 11 DISTRICTS PROVIDING JIGGER TREATMENT AND PREVENTION INTERVENTIONS - NUMBER OF PEOPLE SEEN AND TREATED AT CLINICS- 1,989 - NUMBER OF CLINICS HELD - 25(2) RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FACILITY (HOPE CENTRE): OUR MOST EFFICIENT METHOD TO FIGHTING JIGGERS IS THE RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FACILITY, WHICH BRINGS HEALING TO CHILDREN AND ELDERLY PEOPLE WITH THE MOST SEVERE CASES, USUALLY ARRIVING WITH 100 OR MORE JIGGERS ON THEIR BODY. WE TREAT JIGGERS AND EQUIP CHILDREN WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND TOOLS TO REMAIN JIGGER-FREE FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. PATIENTS ARE UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF FULLTIME NURSES, A DOCTOR, AND CAREGIVERS FOR TWO WEEKS OR MORE WHERE THEY ARE TREATED, TAUGHT HEALTHY HABITS TO REMAIN JIGGER FREE, AND RECEIVE PSYCHO SOCIAL SUPPORT FROM OUR SOCIAL WORK TEAM. PATIENTS ARE PROVIDED THREE MEALS PER DAY, EDUCATION CLASSES, TWO PAIRS OF SHOES, A SET OF CLEAN CLOTHING, AND HYGIENE PRODUCTS. ADDITIONALLY, OUR MEDICAL TEAM, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL HOSPITALS, STRIVES TO TREAT WHATEVER OTHER CONDITIONS PATIENTS PRESENT WITH FROM MALARIA TO HERNIAS. - NUMBER OF PATIENTS TREATED AT THE HOPE CENTRE 445 (4) HOME VISITS: SOLE HOPE SOCIAL WORKERS AND COMMUNITY-BASED VILLAGE HEALTH TEAMS VISIT EACH AND EVERY PATIENT WHO STAYED AT THE HOPE CENTRE. THEY STRIVE TO PERFORM ONE MONTH, THREE MONTHS, AND SIX MONTHS FOLLOW UP VISITS. VISITS ARE AIMED AT MOBILIZING COMMUNITY SUPPORT, REINFORCING POSITIVE CHANGES MADE DURING PATIENTS' STAY AT HOPE CENTRE AND EARLY INTERVENTION IN THE CASE OF RE-INFESTATION. 2,607 FORMER PATIENTS WERE FOLLOWED UP, AND 74% WERE LIVING JIGGER FREE.(5) SHOEMAKING SOLE HOPE EMPLOYS 16 UGANDAN TAILORS AND SHOEMAKERS AND PAYS THEM A FAIR WAGE TO COMPLETE THE SHOES GIVEN OUT AT CLINICS AND THE RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FACILITY. - NUMBER OF PAIRS OF SHOES MADE 15,642 (6) JOB CREATION: A KEY PART OF SOLE HOPE'S MISSION IN UGANDA IS CREATING JOBS. EMPLOYMENT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO LIVE A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE AND RAISE THEIR FAMILIES NOT ONLY JIGGER FREE, BUT ALSO AS EDUCATED AND PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY. THROUGH THE ABOVE MENTIONED PROGRAMS, SOLE HOPE EMPLOYS UGANDAN SHOEMAKERS', TAILORS, DOCTORS, NURSES, SOCIAL WORKERS, EDUCATORS, CARETAKERS, DRIVERS, ADMINISTRATORS AND SECURITY PERSONNEL TO WORK TOGETHER TOWARDS OUR GOAL OF ZERO JIGGERS. - NUMBER OF FULL TIME UGANDAN SOLE HOPE EMPLOYEES AT THE END OF 2021 - 43