What is GROW?
GROW, which stands for Grassroots On-site Work, is an internship in which 4-5 members of our very own GlobeMed chapter travel to Gulu, Uganda for 6 weeks in order to work on-site with GWED-G. Through GROW, members of our team are immersed in the incredibly meaningful work done by GWED-G. The team works together in order to provide a variety of services, such as HIV testing, HIV treatment, and the distribution of Mama Kits, or kits filled with sterile, necessary tools for safe childbirth. In addition, the GROW team hosts workshops to promote financial literacy and works to teach safe sex practices by distributing contraceptives, such as condoms. One of the most important aspects of GROW is the ability to work with GWED-G in the long-term, and thus, feedback from the community is necessary in order to improve the services they provide overtime. Thus, community led discussions take place and members of the GROW team also speak one-on-one with several individuals in order to clarify needs and improve the work our GlobeMed can do in the future.
STORIES OF CHANGE
hear directly from the mothers we support
Acii Lucy, Oboo Parish
HER STORY: Quiet but friendly, Acii Lucy greets us with a sad smile. She learned about GWED-G’s economic livelihood program from Lucy, a VHT in her community, and has been part of the program for the past six years.
Acii started taking ARVs in 2006 but suspects she may have been HIV positive for some time before her diagnosis. Her first three children were born from home, without the benefit of antenatal care and the HIV testing that it includes. All three children were born HIV positive; the first passed away after three months, the second after one year, and the third after two years. Since then, she has had three more children, only one of whom is HIV positive. Her youngest child is now 5 years old.
Acii’s first husband was HIV positive as well. He knew his status, but lived in denial, and when she came back from the hospital with ARVs for the both of them, he mocked her, saying that she was taking pills without even knowing what they were. He refused to take his medication, and eventually fell critically ill. By the time he reached the hospital, his CD4 was already very low, and he passed away just after he was put on ARVs.
Acii remarried after her husband’s death, but her new husband proved to be irresponsible and dishonest. He stole what she describes as her “only hope” – nine bags of crops that she had harvested – and sold them to finance his alcoholism. She and her husband have since divorced, and she has not seen him since, nor does she know where he is.
The HIV stigma that Acii faces has luckily subsided over the years. She explains that people talked a lot when she first got diagnosed and started taking ARVs, but in the years since, people have seen how little effect their comments have on her and the talking has abated. Acii’s HIV positive child, however, has faced stigma at school and has even missed school because of it. She recently went to speak with his teacher, who has promised to support him.
Through GWED-G’s program, Acii has received seeds, mama kits, and a goat, as well as HIV sensitization and education. Acii says that the mama kits she has received have helped her have healthy babies. Her goat has produced two kids, one of which she plans to sell to help pay for her daughter’s schooling. Her bean fields have realized good yields, allowing her to sell some of the harvest as well as feed her family. She replanted some of the beans for the second season, and the next round of crops is almost ready to be harvested.
Acii hopes that GWED-G will be able to increase livelihood disbursements in the future and vary the crops that are provided. She says that everything is linked to support, and the most important thing right now is keeping the program going. She explains that as much as families can have a positive attitude, it’s very helpful to have something tangible that they can use to support their families. She says that home visits give her hope and show her that people care.
Written by Alison Kahn
Photography by Athena Chin
Acii started taking ARVs in 2006 but suspects she may have been HIV positive for some time before her diagnosis. Her first three children were born from home, without the benefit of antenatal care and the HIV testing that it includes. All three children were born HIV positive; the first passed away after three months, the second after one year, and the third after two years. Since then, she has had three more children, only one of whom is HIV positive. Her youngest child is now 5 years old.
Acii’s first husband was HIV positive as well. He knew his status, but lived in denial, and when she came back from the hospital with ARVs for the both of them, he mocked her, saying that she was taking pills without even knowing what they were. He refused to take his medication, and eventually fell critically ill. By the time he reached the hospital, his CD4 was already very low, and he passed away just after he was put on ARVs.
Acii remarried after her husband’s death, but her new husband proved to be irresponsible and dishonest. He stole what she describes as her “only hope” – nine bags of crops that she had harvested – and sold them to finance his alcoholism. She and her husband have since divorced, and she has not seen him since, nor does she know where he is.
The HIV stigma that Acii faces has luckily subsided over the years. She explains that people talked a lot when she first got diagnosed and started taking ARVs, but in the years since, people have seen how little effect their comments have on her and the talking has abated. Acii’s HIV positive child, however, has faced stigma at school and has even missed school because of it. She recently went to speak with his teacher, who has promised to support him.
Through GWED-G’s program, Acii has received seeds, mama kits, and a goat, as well as HIV sensitization and education. Acii says that the mama kits she has received have helped her have healthy babies. Her goat has produced two kids, one of which she plans to sell to help pay for her daughter’s schooling. Her bean fields have realized good yields, allowing her to sell some of the harvest as well as feed her family. She replanted some of the beans for the second season, and the next round of crops is almost ready to be harvested.
Acii hopes that GWED-G will be able to increase livelihood disbursements in the future and vary the crops that are provided. She says that everything is linked to support, and the most important thing right now is keeping the program going. She explains that as much as families can have a positive attitude, it’s very helpful to have something tangible that they can use to support their families. She says that home visits give her hope and show her that people care.
Written by Alison Kahn
Photography by Athena Chin
Acomo Betty, Agwayagi Parish
HER STORY: The mother of six children and the grandmother of seven grandchildren, Acomo Betty is the matriarch of a large family. This role comes with many responsibilities, but with her HIV positive status, Acomo Betty had the added concern of not passing her HIV positive status to her progeny.
When Achoko Franny became involved with GWED-G, she remembered Acomo Betty as a particularly responsible participant of a Swiss clinical trial she was involved in and enrolled her to receive GWED-G support. Acomo Betty cites the most important support she has received from GWED-G as knowledge: medical information regarding HIV/AIDS and preventative health practices. With this support, Acomo Betty was able to protect and to care for her family, preventing transmission of HIV to her children and their children.
When one of her children passed away from meningitis, Acomo Betty was left with two grandchildren to care for and to raise. The support she received from GWED-G’s livelihood program became essential in taking care of her grandchildren. She received goats and seeds to plant as part of the livelihood program, which enabled her to feed and clothe her grandchildren, as well as send them to school.
Feeling grateful for the support she received, Acomo Betty felt she had much to give to her community. She joined the Village Health Team and became of the lead caretakers of her community, the Agwayagi Parish. She became a source of support for the HIV-positive individuals within her community, offering them counseling and connecting them with GWED-G resources during her home visits. Her responsibilities also include dispensing medicine she has received from the health center: anti-malaria pills and Anti-Retroviral (ARV) drugs. Looking to the future of GWED-G’s programs to support HIV positive individuals, Acomo Betty notes that in her experience, she has found the key to improving her community to be awareness and sensitization outreach and hopes for GWED-G’s continued support in this venture.
When Achoko Franny became involved with GWED-G, she remembered Acomo Betty as a particularly responsible participant of a Swiss clinical trial she was involved in and enrolled her to receive GWED-G support. Acomo Betty cites the most important support she has received from GWED-G as knowledge: medical information regarding HIV/AIDS and preventative health practices. With this support, Acomo Betty was able to protect and to care for her family, preventing transmission of HIV to her children and their children.
When one of her children passed away from meningitis, Acomo Betty was left with two grandchildren to care for and to raise. The support she received from GWED-G’s livelihood program became essential in taking care of her grandchildren. She received goats and seeds to plant as part of the livelihood program, which enabled her to feed and clothe her grandchildren, as well as send them to school.
Feeling grateful for the support she received, Acomo Betty felt she had much to give to her community. She joined the Village Health Team and became of the lead caretakers of her community, the Agwayagi Parish. She became a source of support for the HIV-positive individuals within her community, offering them counseling and connecting them with GWED-G resources during her home visits. Her responsibilities also include dispensing medicine she has received from the health center: anti-malaria pills and Anti-Retroviral (ARV) drugs. Looking to the future of GWED-G’s programs to support HIV positive individuals, Acomo Betty notes that in her experience, she has found the key to improving her community to be awareness and sensitization outreach and hopes for GWED-G’s continued support in this venture.
Adong Evelyn, Pagok Parish
HER STORY: Adong Evelyn first crossed paths with GWED-G in 2012 when a local VHT worker, Julius, reached out to her about GWED-G’s HIV Prevention and Maternal Health program. At the time, she was pregnant with her first child and knew little about safe birth practices. She had recently tested positive for HIV and was fearful of the threat that her illness posed to her child. Through GWED-G’s program she was able to receive a mama kit- an all-in-one package that contains all the necessary items such as scalpels, soap, gloves, blankets, etc. needed to help provide a clean and safe delivery. In fact, in order to give birth in most hospitals or clinics in the villages, women are required to purchase all of the aforementioned supplies themselves. Without these supplies, most women are turned away. Since most women lack the means to procure said supplies, they end up not seeking medical care, which often leads to complications and even death for the mothers and babies. Fortunately, through the use of a mama kit, Evelyn safely gave birth to her first child.
Following the birth of her first child, she kept in touch with GWED-G, making sure she was in attendance at integrated health service sessions- multi-purpose service delivery points offering a range of health services such as HIV/AIDS testing, malaria screening, antenatal appointments, general consultations, etc. Consequently, she gave birth to three more healthy children using the mama kits and all four of them tested negative for HIV.
While recounting her story, Evelyn smiles tenderly and mentions that her younger daughter still sports the socks that were included in her mama kit. Evelyn also stresses the importance of community sensitization sessions and the change that such a program has brought into her life. Not only was she able to come to terms with her HIV status, she also felt supported and empowered in her community knowing that there were people that deeply cared about her well-being. Weekly meetings led by VHT workers allowed her to connect with resources and informed her on the specifics of her illness. Evelyn also remarked that she feels more in control of her situation and is able to make her own decisions regarding her health.
Additionally, Evelyn has made significant strides towards reintegrating herself in society. As a beneficiary of GWED-G’s livelihood program, she received goats and seeds which she used to generate income for her family. She positively reflects upon her harvest from last season, indicating that the beans grew extremely well and is optimistic for this year’s yield.
Following the birth of her first child, she kept in touch with GWED-G, making sure she was in attendance at integrated health service sessions- multi-purpose service delivery points offering a range of health services such as HIV/AIDS testing, malaria screening, antenatal appointments, general consultations, etc. Consequently, she gave birth to three more healthy children using the mama kits and all four of them tested negative for HIV.
While recounting her story, Evelyn smiles tenderly and mentions that her younger daughter still sports the socks that were included in her mama kit. Evelyn also stresses the importance of community sensitization sessions and the change that such a program has brought into her life. Not only was she able to come to terms with her HIV status, she also felt supported and empowered in her community knowing that there were people that deeply cared about her well-being. Weekly meetings led by VHT workers allowed her to connect with resources and informed her on the specifics of her illness. Evelyn also remarked that she feels more in control of her situation and is able to make her own decisions regarding her health.
Additionally, Evelyn has made significant strides towards reintegrating herself in society. As a beneficiary of GWED-G’s livelihood program, she received goats and seeds which she used to generate income for her family. She positively reflects upon her harvest from last season, indicating that the beans grew extremely well and is optimistic for this year’s yield.
Check out some photography from past GROW trips:
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Click through the slideshow below to see more stories of change!