Kasese is in the West of Uganda and this programme is operating in communities on the shores of Lake George.

All three of the communities being served, which have an approximate total population of 10,000, suffer from extreme poverty. This is mainly due to their near sole dependence on small-scale fishing, the produce of which is sold in the local market. The local people are unable to afford large fish so the fishermen must catch small, immature fish. As well as being illegal, this may be putting the future sustainability of this activity at risk.

Inhabitants of both Kahendero and Hamukungu are unable to farm the land as they are within the boundaries of Queen Elizabeth National Park. They are forbidden from growing crops by the park authorities and any cattle owned by the community members are under constant danger from predators such as lions. As a result the population survive on a diet almost solely comprising of fish.

Living conditions are poor with housing consisting almost entirely of small wattle and daub houses with one room per family. Most do not contain a bed and are only furnished with a couple of cooking utensils. Additionally, toilets are few and far between and the majority of the locals are forced to resort to the bush despite the obvious dangers from the park’s wildlife.

Water is also a problem as many of the inhabitants of the community have no access to a fresh, clean supply and so they are forced to drink the lake water. This is the same water that is used for washing, bathing etc. and has lead to numerous outbreaks of diseases such as cholera, dysentery and typhoid.

All of the communities contain a primary school and Hamukungu has its own secondary school. Yet there is a major problem with absenteeism as many pupils go out fishing on the lake instead of attending.

The communities receive little other healthcare and any problem that can’t be dealt with by the project must be referred to Kagando or Kilembe hospitals. Yet this in itself can cause problems as the hospital can be up to 40km away from the patient’s house and many cannot afford the cost of transport. Even at these hospitals there is no access to facilities such as X-ray, scans etc.

This poor socio-economic status in the communities has lead to feelings of hopelessness. This, coupled with the boredom of small town life and lack of activity, has caused many to resort to alcohol. The resulting problem with alcohol abuse, in conjunction with the large number of sex workers in the area, has lead to an increase in HIV high-risk behaviours and therefore greater vulnerability to HIV infection. Additionally, it perpetuates the vicious cycle of poverty.

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Let me start by thanking Clodagh who helped to prepare this information during her visit last year.

Perhaps the best place to start is with a case study which tells us a bit more about how lives are being impacted by this programme.

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Mrs A, a young women with a 7 year old son who lives in Muhokya in a single roomed wattle and daub house with no bed. She was previously a sex worker and now lives alone with her son. They survive by collecting fire wood in the park and then bringing it back to sell in the village.

She attended an outreach project in January 2011 where she was found to be HIV positive. She is currently receiving ARV treatment. She developed urogenital warts which Carolyne, the clinical officer, attempted to treat in the community. However, this failed so she raised the funds for transport for the patient and a caregiver to Kampala where she was admitted to Hope Ward, the charity ward at International Hospital Kampala. She spent 6 weeks at IHK where she had surgery to remove the warts. She was eventually discharged on 28^th July 2011.

Carolyne and the team is seeking a sponsor for Mrs A, hoping that they will lend her money to start a small income generation venture. In this way she will be able to support herself and her son in the future.

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• IMF Working with Kasese Cobalt Company Limited: Update (suubitrust.org.uk)

I have read this article with great interest, and concern as its such a complex problem but need to be solved by us all as world citizens.

Yes times are very hard at the moment, yes the UK can be proud of its record of being one of the first countries in line to give aid to those most needing it, but as the article says funds are not unlimited and services have to be rationed, the dilemma is to who.

Those people who have to make these heart breaking decisions have a terrible task as how do you turn away a mother and child who is sick and needing help, more so if you know the cost of the actual treatment can be so low in western standards but if money is not there !!!!!

All governments of the world should do more to solve these ongoing problems which are not solved by money alone, as the need to educate and to show the way forward for self-sufficiency is the utmost priority or these problems just occur year in year out as we have all seen

However we can all help but I think from a funding point of view (General Public) there is a willingness to give more but adverse press about diversion of funds (corruption) misuse of money, or just waste caused by local infrastructure problems deters many people from giving more.

At this time of severe economic problems the questions are raised all the time as to why the UK should give to say :- India (5th largest Industrial country in the world) and others who are seen to have more available money themselves than us, but who turn their back on providing funds and services to their own people’s needs.

Of course the arguments are put forward that it’s in our commercial interests to give and no doubt that’s true but many countries in the same position give nothing or very little so yes the UK should be proud of its people’s efforts in spite of concerns about the use of the money given.

Maybe, if the General Public funds could be seen to be directed at the problems, and where people themselves could monitor the progress their money was achieving, then I think some of the hesitation would go and more money would flow.

Whatever the solution is, Now is not the time to stop giving as surely we all have a Duty of Care to each other and 0.7% of National Income is a small price to bear for the help it gives to saving so many lives.

International Medical Foundation has been working with Kasese Cobalt Company Limited since October 2006 to provide basic health services to the poor living in three communities close to the KCCL facility in Kasese, West Uganda; Muhokya, Kahendero and Hamukungu.

This programme has been supported by Health Initiatives For The Private Sector, HIPS, a USAID funded project.

Together we have provided HIV voluntary counselling and testing to 4,151 adults, of which 638 tested positive. We have enrolled 467 onto our treatment and care programme and currently 161 are receiving anti-retroviral therapy, ART.

Those enrolled are able to have regular health checks, including a CD4 test which provides a clinical indication of the strength, or weakness, of their immunity system. When the CD4 count has fallen to a given threshold the client is then started on ART.

From time-to-time we are able to provide other health related support, such as these, which we were able to provide in 2011 thanks to the additional funds from HIPS:

Sometimes of course it doesn’t work out and sadly in 2011, 17 of those enrolled on ART died from AIDS related conditions. These individuals joined our programme too late for the treatment to make a long-lasting impact on their infection. That’s why its important that we continue to conduct regular, community based, outreach in which we can provide health education and encourage people to come forward and be tested, before they start to feel sick.

The programme is, we think, a good example of how companies and agencies can work together, sharing cost, resources and expertise, to provide life-changing health services to those that need it most.

The TB Lab now has its roof on and work has started on the internal structure.

The Theatre Block is taking shape, the internal layout is now very evident and the walls are ready for the windows.

The full picture set can be found here.

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• Suubi Trust Annual Returns (suubitrust.org.uk)

Our key focus at this time is raising funds to build a maternity theatre at Charis Health Centre in Lira, Northern Uganda. This is an essential project that will provide a facility from which local women will be able to access safe maternal delivery services and emergency obstetrics as required. Building works are underway; you can watch progress by clicking on the image below.

We continue to provide funding to support treatment of cancer patients on the charity “Hope Ward” at International Hospital Kampala (IHK), Uganda. These funds help to ensure that such care and treatment is accessible to those that otherwise could not afford it.

Most of the funds raised by Suubi Trust come from individual supporters.

We are grateful to Richard and Pat who have led the fund raising for the theatre build in Lira. Rose and Becci helped to get this fund started.

Alison, her family and friends, including Helen, continue to support the work in Namuwongo that Alison was involved with during her time there as a VSO volunteer.

Kate and Caroline, to name just two, are keen supporters of the Cancer Care fund and are amongst the first to use standing orders and Give As You Earn.

Jamie, Louise, Emily, Sean and Rose helped to raise funds using Justgiving pages.

Our thanks also to church members in Hazlemere and Menorca.

All money raised by Suubi Trust is used to support the work of International Medical Foundation in Uganda. Our Trustees are volunteers and do not charge for any services or expenses. The only administration costs covered by the funds raised, and the associated gift aid, are bank charges and the cost of having the online giving facility at Justgiving.

You can review our accounts and annual returns on the Charity Commission website by clicking on the image below.

Thank you all for your kind and generous support and we wish you all a great 2012.

Jackie and Gary are nurses working with Dr. Richard in the UK. They recently got married and instead of presents, asked their friends to give donations to Suubi Trust for the theatre build at Charis in Lira. They raised over 4 million shillings (about £1,000).

We send them our thanks and very best wishes.

We’re raising money for Hope Ward Cancer Care, the charity ward of International Hospital Kampala. I’m growing a moustache, you’re donating money. Hopefully.

You can donate online by clicking here.

The newsletter can be downloaded by clicking here.