The Role of NGOS in the Fight Against HIV/AIDS in Bugiri District: A Case Study of Goal

ABSTRACT HIV/AIDS is one of the greatest crises the world faces today. According to the figures for 2003, 38 million people are living with HIV/AIDS in the world. In Uganda alone, it is estimated that over one million people are infected with HIV/AIDS and probably over one million people have already died of HIV/AIDS. The government of Uganda in collaboration with local and international partners have designed and implemented several initiatives for the prevention and control of HIV AIDS. NGOs have been very active in this field than any other agency and they have done good work to fight HIV and AIDS. However the problem seems to increase each day. The problem seems to be that NGOs face a lot of challenges in trying to fight HIV/AIDS. The issues identified include lack of resources, continued risky behaviours, vulnerable groups, poverty, inadequate collaboration and information sharing. NGOs have done a lot of work such as offering social services to fight HIV and AIDS. And some of these services include; behavioural change, communication initiative, VCT training and management, PPTCT, home based care, ARVs training. All these help to prevent and mitigate HIV I AIDS. Some recommendations were suggested and these include; lobby for more resources, putting in more effort to ensure that people give up risky behaviours, to involve the whole community, strengthen monitoring and evaluation activities, to streamline referral mechanisms and to address the problem of poverty because it is the leading problem of risky behaviours. V