Comprehensive HIV Treatment for 12,000 Ugandans

AMS continues to be recognized for our cutting-edge and top quality programs. In the past three months we have received a prestigious award from the Procter & Gamble Company and seen UNAIDS recognize the importance of food security for people living with HIV. We are proud to see the comprehensive programs that make our services so unique being recognized by leaders in the private and public sectors. AMS continues to serve as a global leader in providing high-impact, innovative care to thousands of people living with HIV with the generous support of friends like you!

At the end of September, Dr. Pasquine, Alive Medical Services, and Keep a Child Alive were given the Procter & Gamble Company’s Social Sustainability Partnership Award. This award recognized AMS’ comprehensive programing, including our P&G Safe Drinking Water Program, which helps our patients access clean drinking water while reducing the risk of opportunistic infections. The award was given at the prestigious Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting in New York City, in the presence of U.S. President Bill Clinton and other global leaders. In addition to receiving the award, Dr. Pasquine joined other prominent global advocates for girls and women in a panel discussion as part of the “Giving Girls a Chance” topic dinner. Dr. Pasquine spoke about the connection between girls’ and women’s health issues and HIV/AIDS.

Next, on World Food Day (16 October) UNAIDS released a statement connecting the importance of food security to HIV care. The organization acknowledged the importance of nutrition support, saying “people living with HIV are more likely to adhere to and benefit from treatment for the virus when they are well-nourished and secure.” This confirms what AMS has known for years - nutrition support is one of the many programs included in our comprehensive care. AMS hosts 2 Food Days a month, providing essential food items to hundreds of clients and their families. You can learn more about AMS’ nutrition support program in our November newsletter.

Finally, the Microsoft Windows 10 team visited AMS in October to see the many ways that AMS uses technology to improve the quality of our services. Impressed by AMS’ creative approach to HIV care, the Microsoft team made a video capturing the innovative way that AMS uses technology to help youth living with HIV lead healthy and productive lives. This video shows the beautiful power of providing loving and dignified care!

All of this recognition belongs to the entire AMS family – including dedicated supporters like YOU! Thank you for continuing to stand with us in this important work – together we are truly achieving more!

On Tuesday, 1 December AMS will celebrate World AIDS Day. AMS exemplifies the official theme of 'Getting to zero' (which includes zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination, and zero AIDS-related deaths). Please celebrate health and happiness with AMS and our clients this World AIDS Day!

Links:

• Read the AMS November Newsletter
• Watch Microsoft's video of AMS innovative services

We Are All One Team

Month after month, AMS is able to continue providing top quality care to a growing number of people, currently more than 12,200 clients, because of the strong unity and cooperation among staff, patients, and community members. The warm and welcoming atmosphere at AMS provides a base for building strong and trusting relationships. As a result, staff and patients work together, as one strong team, to end AIDS in Uganda.

Throughout the month of June, AMS was abuzz with the GlobalGiving June Open Challenge. AMS used the fundraiser as an opportunity for innovation and creativity, organizing two Car/Motorcycle Wash events at the clinic to garner extra attention. Beyond washing vehicles and raising funds, these events provided community members with a new, low-stigma way to access the AMS facility. The clinic offered free screenings and services, including: blood pressure, heart rate, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), oxygen saturation, health and nutrition advice, and HIV counselling and testing.

Having one’s vehicle washed provided hesitant or nervous community members an alternative reason to come to the clinic. For example, one Boda boda rider (a man who provides commercial motorcycle rides) had come to have his bike washed and decided to go for HIV counselling and testing while he waited. Boda boda riders are one of Uganda’s most-at-risk populations (having an above average HIV prevalence as compared to the rest of the population). Reaching these most-at-risk populations with comprehensive care, treatment, and support is particularly important.

After testing, the Boda boda rider received a positive result and was referred to the counselling department for support and guidance. Barbara, one of AMS’ experienced counsellors, provided the man with the information and emotional encouragement to understand his test result, the process of enrolling in care, and the importance of adhering to treatment. However, the man was shocked by his positive test result and initially had trouble accepting it. He explained that he had tested for HIV three months earlier and received a negative test result. Seeing the man’s disbelief, Barbara continued to offer emotional support and a variety of additional options, including testing at another facility to receive a second opinion. She told the man that if his result came back positive again then he could return to AMS to enroll in services.

Two days later this man was one of the first patients to arrive at the clinic. Spotting Barbara, he asked if the counselor remembered their conversation from his previous visit. Barbara greeted the man with love and recognition. The man had gone to a large, nearby hospital for another HIV test after leaving AMS. Once again the test results had come back positive. Accepting the information, the man had told hospital staff that he already knew where he wanted to go for treatment – AMS. By the time that he had returned that Monday morning he was ready to work hand in hand with AMS staff to enroll in services and begin his treatment.

Stories like this illustrate the enormous difference that the friendly, caring team at AMS is making on a daily basis. Creative service-entry points have increased AMS’ accessibility, kept client retention rates high, and supported treatment adherence. In June and July alone, AMS enrolled 159 new patients and cared for a total 4,812 patients.

Maintaining comprehensive services and creative service-entry points has allowed AMS to transform the clinic into a community hub: where someone can come for anything from safe drinking water supplies and basic food staples to HIV care, treatment, and support. This past Wednesday, AMS clients participating in the sustainable gardening project sold carrots to other waiting patients. Together, with the generous support of donors like you, we can continue to provide comprehensive services that support the physical, emotional, and economic wellbeing of our clients.

Ongoing services throughout June and July have included:

• Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Care, Treatment, and Support
• Voluntary HIV Counselling and Testing
• State-of-the-art Laboratory Services
• Full Range of Psychosocial Support Services
• Maternal and Child Health Services
• Family Planning and Reproductive Health Services
• Nutritional Support
• Safe Drinking Water Program
• Victors Club and Youth Programming
• Peer Support Groups and Income Generating Activities
• Weekly Community Outreaches and Home-Based Care Visits
• Complementary Patient Transportation

We recognize that together, everyone achieves more, which is why at AMS we are all one team: staff, patients, community members, and supporters.

Links:

• Please learn about more achievements at AMS with our newsletter