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Organization Contact Information | |
| Name: | Growth Networks Uganda (GRONET) |
| Street 1: | P.O Box 40340, Busaabala Road Masajja |
| Street 2: | |
| City: | Kampala |
| Province: | Central Region |
| Post Code: | 256 |
| Country: | Uganda |
| Phone: | 0757255307 |
| Organization Email: | gronet.ug@gmail.com |
| Web Site: | http://www.gronet.org |
| Other Online Presence: | |
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General Information | |
| Board Constituency: | None |
| Is your organization legally registered in your country: | Yes |
| If yes, please enter your registration number: | |
| Organization Type - Primary: | Non-Governmental Organization |
| Organization Type - Secondary: | Community-Based Organization (CBO) |
| Organization Description: | |
| VISSION: A harmonious and vibrant society with the capacity to advocate for their rights and engage policy makers for the implementation of social economic policies that encourage transformation and promotion of sustainable livelihoods for the citizens. MISSION: To open up sustainable avenues to empower the people with skills, knowledge and best practices to enable them participate in social economic development and demand for efficient service delivery. FOCAL AREAS 1. Capacity building and skills development for youth and women. 2. HIV-TB and prevention, care and treatment. 3. Environment protection and food security. 4. Savings and credit scheme. 5. Public welfare, gender and health care. 6. Human rights and good governance. 7. Consultancy works and commission agents. Tuberculosis is prevalent in all Districts in Uganda, both in rural and urban areas and it remains a public health priority irrespective of local incidence rates. In 2017, there were over 92,145 cases of TB reported in Uganda. The epidemiology of TB differs across the Districts and depends among other things. As TB incidence increases in the general population, the disease becomes concentrated in key populations at the lower end of the socio-economic scale and especially among vulnerable (Homeless, incarcerated, PLHIV, Drug users, misusing Alcoholic groups, smokers, Elderly, Diabetic, Migrants, Ethnic minority/ indigenous populations, exposed health workers and marginalized Urban-Rural poor groups) and socially excluded populations. In general, TB cannot be controlled at national population level unless specific efforts are made to find and treat cases occurring among those most socio-economically disadvantaged and vulnerable. The main pillars of TB prevention and control are early diagnosis and case management, which are essential not only for the successful treatment of TB patients, but also for controlling TB as a public health problem. Vulnerable finds it difficult to recognize TB symptoms, access health service |
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| Do you know about the UNHLM declaration: | |
Specializations / Areas of Work | |
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Advocacy Civil Society and Community Engagement Delivery of health services and care Engaging political leaders and ensuring inclusive leadership Research and Development Technical Assistance Working on Community, Rights and Gender (CRG) Working on Key Populations related to TB |
Other Organization Information | |
| Total number of staff in your organization: | 51 - 99 |
| Number of full-time staff who are directly involved with TB: | 6 - 10 |
| Number of part-time staff who are directly involved with TB: | 11 - 25 |
| Number of volunteers who are directly involved with TB: | 26 - 50 |
| How did you hear about the Stop TB Partnership: | Involvement in TB control provision |
| If you were informed or referred by another partner of the Stop TB Partnership please tell us who: | |
| Why do you wish join the Stop TB Partnership: | Resource mobilization |
| Are you a member of a Stop TB national partnership: | No |
| Are you in contact with your national TB programme: | Yes |
| Please tell us how your organization is contributing to your country's national TB control plan: | |
| Growth Networks contributes to the Uganda's national TB Plan through the following activities: 1. Sensitize communities about TB symptoms, treatment options, and prevention: Conduct health education sessions on TB at homesteads & neighborhoods of TB patients, Conduct awareness talks targeting men and youth, Disseminate TB messages at hot spots & congregate settings such as refugee settlements, prisons, slums, labour camps, schools and fishing villages. 2. Distribute TB information, education, and communication (IEC) materials to: Homesteads & neighborhoods of TB patients, Prisons, slums, labour camps, schools and other congregate settings, Youth & men’s groups. 3. Conduct targeted TB screening at congregate settings - slums, prisons, etc. 4. Trace TB patients that missed their clinic appointments, lost or newly tested TB positive, but have not returned to receive their results. 5. Counsel patients to adhere to treatment; monitor adherence to TB treatment by reviewing the TB treatment card record and the TB medicine blisters. 6. Map & develop directory of congregate institutions, small drug shops, private clinics & pharmacies, and community, institutional, cultural, religious & other leaders. Develop & submit contact list of CHEWs, VHTs, CSO volunteers, sub-county health workers, expert patients /TB survivors, treatment supporters and health unit TB focal persons. 7. Collaborate with health facilities and maintain contact lists for all facilities, VHTs and the community leaders such as local councils. |
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Geographical Reach | |
| Which country is your headquarters located in: | Uganda |
| Which countries do you do operate in: (This includes countries you are conducting activities in) |
Uganda |
Contribution | |
| Please tell us how your organization will contribute to the Global Plan to Stop TB by briefly describing its involvement in any of the areas of work listed below: | |
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TB Care Delivery: The aim of health education and communication is to ensure that symptomatic or exposed individuals can recognize the onset of TB, know how to access diagnostic services and take up opportunities for screening, and are well informed about treatment and the importance of adherence to treatment. Increasing awareness and addressing misconceptions about TB in both the general and vulnerable populations is a central function of TB defeat. Sustaining and resourcing health communication and education activities as a central component of service provision to prevent diagnostic delays, loss to follow up and reduce health inequalities, can improve TB control, Target audiences say national policymakers, entities responsible for the planning of healthcare and social support systems, national TB programmes, civil society organizations and non-governmental organizations with an interest in TB, as well as those working with vulnerable groups. Topics to address when developing this intervention include potential barriers and facilitators to diagnosis and treatment and include: • Basic facts about TB including how it is spread, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. These should be tailored to the local language and cultural needs including the needs of children. • Information on how to access healthcare and counselling services. • Information on stigma and discrimination. • Resources to promote a high index of clinical suspicion among frontline professionals working with vulnerable populations including information on local referral pathways for symptomatic individuals. Web based learning and training modules for health and social care professionals can be a highly effective and efficient way of training the workforce and ensuring that resources are up to date and evidence-based. • Information for newly diagnosed cases on importance and methods for enabling treatment adherence, DOT, potential side effects, contact investigations, access to incentives and enablers and support groups. • Information for vulnerable people co-infected with blood-borne viruses such as HIV and hepatitis • Information for contacts of TB cases including resources for children. • Targeted information to promote uptake of screening in vulnerable populations. Communication, awareness and education resources can be made available in a variety of formats and increasingly, digital media (Social medias say” WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram”, Radio talks and Website). Digital media can include online video content, Images, text messages, and audios. This is based on reasons that, a good number of people can now access computers say Laptops and smart phones which have all these basic Apps and cheap internet service provision from different local communication networks. Though online tools may be difficult for many vulnerable individuals, written and verbal format resources (posters, Brochures, stickers, flyers and Banners) need to be made available taking into consideration levels of literacy and they will be distributed to Homesteads & neighborhoods of TB patients, Prisons, slums, labour camps, schools, health facilities, drug shops, clinics, pharmacies, bars, stages, stations, market centers, retail/wholesale shops, taxis, parks, restaurants, public accommodation places, places of worship, Youth & men’s groups and other congregate settings of vulnerable communities. TB patients that experience stigma and discrimination may be reluctant to access health and social care services. It is of paramount importance that social care providers are aware of the benefits gained when services are non-stigmatizing, and where persons are treated with empathy and respect regardless of who they are. TB sensitization are carried out at Homesteads & neighborhoods of TB patients, Prisons, slums, labour camps, schools, health facilities, places of worship, market centers, parks, Youths & men’s groups and other congregate settings of vulnerable communities. TB-HIV: Political efforts to reduce poverty and work against social exclusion and inequality pay a significant community health dividend across the spectrum of chronic and infectious diseases among which TB-HIV offers one of the highest returns on investment for any health condition. Thus, sensitizing people living with HIV on socio-economic profile, symptoms of TB which are coughing for more than four weeks, noticeable weight loss for more than 3kgs, coughing out blood, chest pain, non-painful swelling in the neck/armpits or inguinal areas, excessive night sweats for more than three weeks, persistent fever for more than two weeks, poor weight gain in children below five years in the past one month. In addition to the above, these populations need to be sensitized on common forms and symptoms of Extra Pulmonary Tuberculosis which include; TB adenitis: characterized by non-painful swelling, Pericardial TB: which is known for difficulty in breathing, easy fatigability, palpitations and chest pain, TB spine: Deformity of the spine, lower lib weakness, paralysis and inability to walk, TB meningitis: Headache, vomiting without diarrhea, irritability and abnormal behavior, lethargic/reduced level of consciousness, bulging fontanelle, neck stiffness and convulsions, Miliary TB: lethargy, fever, wasting which affects also other organs like the liver and spleen, Abdominal TB: abdominal swelling and masses, Pleural TB: fast and difficulty in breathing and chest pain, Bone and Joint TB: that’s the swelling of the long bones and difficulty in movement. New Diagnostics: Early diagnosis and completion of treatment are the most important elements for effective TB prevention, equitable access to healthcare and social support services. It is very important to treat TB because the treatment is aimed at curing the patient, reduce transmission of TB, prevent the development and transmission of drug resistant TB, prevent complications and TB related deaths. Therefore, when initiating TB treatment, right steps should be followed and TB can be treated using some of the following Drugs which include; Rifampicin, Ethambutol, Isoniazid, pyrazinamide etc. Prevention measures are: BCG vaccination, contact screening and management, infection control, early diagnosis, treatment, and Isoniazid preventive therapy. Fundamental Research: Empowerment and participation of vulnerable individuals, stakeholders and population groups in planning and delivering targeted health interventions is key to success and overall effectiveness. TB survivors have first-hand experience of TB symptoms, and the challenges of accessing diagnostic services and completing a lengthy course of drug treatment. Their insights and contribution are of great value in designing better services, addressing barriers to care and strengthening links with vulnerable communities. The ultimate and most effective means of empowering people is to promote their participation in all aspects of TB prevention and control activities and especially in targeted interventions to tackle stigma, raise awareness and improve early case detection. In order to successfully address the factors that increase vulnerability to TB in different individuals and whole populations groups, consideration should be given to reaching beyond the traditional health sector and working towards a population health approach. Population health is an approach that aspires to improve the health of the entire population and to reduce health inequities among population groups. In order to reach these objectives, it looks at and acts upon the broad range of factors and conditions that have a strong influence on our health. An integrated service model encompasses the full range of physical and psycho-social needs associated with vulnerability, and includes initiatives to reach out with services into non-traditional settings, and work in partnership with a range of other health and social care providers as well as civil society organizations to address comorbidities and other relevant socio-behavioral determinants |
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Declaration | |
| Declaration of interests: No conflicts of interest were delacred. | |
| Application date: | August 13, 2018 |
| Last updated: | August 13, 2018 |