Empowered Persons With Disabilities Can Run organizations Pro-actively; A Case of Lungujja Community Healthcare Organization (LUCOHECO)

 

Lungujja Community Health Care Organization (LUCOHECO)

The Executive Director: Maxensia Takirambule

Email: lungujjacommunityhealthcare146@gmail.com

Phone: +256704902184

The Executive Team:

1. Rachael Bamuwade Member of the Executive Team

2. Rita Musoke Member of the Executive Team

3. Carol Nabangi Member of the Executive Team

4. John Muwanga Member of the Executive Team

6. Teddy Mwebe Member of the Executive Team

Project:

The idea for the project you want to execute

A Two-day workshop for 25 people to empower them in knowledge and skills for making Information, Education and Communication Materials on 9 themes. These will be developed into case studies to inform policy, planning and programming. The 9 themes have been recurring as unmet in many of the reports from the Persons with Disabilities who demanded for training in this area. The 9 themes are:

1.  Politics and the Disabled Person in Uganda

2.  Healthy living promotion and the Disabled Person in Uganda

3.  Sexual Reproductive Health and the Disabled Person in Uganda

4.  Child Rights and the Disabled Person in Uganda

5.  International Agreements, Rights and the Disabled Person in Uganda

6.  Colonialism and Racism and the Disabled person in Uganda

7.  The Uganda Disability Act of Uganda and its application in the daily life of disabled persons

8.  Preparing the youths with disabilities to take up leadership roles and responsibilities strategically

The impact of colonialism and racism on your organisation or community, and how that relates to the project you want to execute,

Due to colonial hang-over, many African countries, including Uganda, have taken Persons with Disabilities for granted for long that even today disability means that one must be silent, unseen and relegated to the back rooms of society. This has been historically entrenched until recently when rights-based approaches are used to evaluate performance as well as a popular desire to invest in impact-based programming has seen a change that draws to the table people of different identity and status.  However, there is so much that needs surmounting ranging from physical infrastructure construction that is not disability-friendly to limiting funds allocated to Persons with Disabilities’ run organizations to pro-actively run or integrate dignity-affirmation themes in their strategic plans. We have had opportunities to be invited to various for a as participants but other filling up slots in the name of equal opportunities, there is not so much that is achieved by the Persons with Disabilities.  But it is high time that the Persons with Disabilities are introduced to knowledge and skills to interpret policy, planning requirements and programming objectives.

Is this project a new project, or does it already exist?

The project is part of the leadership training sessions we provide to Leaders of various Persons with Disability-led Organization in Uganda. However, this one is new.

How long it will take you to complete the project

It will be a three-day event.

 

 

How much it will cost to complete the project (Costs in USD)

1.  Venue preparation X 3 X200= 600

2.  Food, refreshments, and catering X 3 X 300=900

3.  Consultant/Facilitator X 3 X 700= 2,100

4.  Transport Van X 3 X 400- 1,200

5.  Stationery X 1 X 400 = 400

6.  Report writing X 1 X 300= 300

7.  Resource materials X 1 Package X 600

8.  Administrative costs X 1 X 200= 200

Grand Total: 6,300

The expected goal of the project,

1.  To provide Persons With Disabilities knowledge and skills to develop policy documents reflecting and integrating their version of experiences which in turn inform policy makers and other leaders.

2.  To equip Persons With Disabilities with resources to enable them conduct strategic advocacy for inclusion and equitable contexts.

How you will know the project has been successfully completed (or has been unsuccessful)

1.  Strategic Advocacy plans by all participants showing what they intend to do post-training

2.  Strengthened and harmonized advocacy campaigns originated by Persons With Disabilities and managed by them through different media (e.g., social media platforms)

3.  For the first time Persons With Disabilities will start their own Advocacy campaigns pro-actively and strategically.

 

 

LUCOHECO Partners With Several Other Individuals and Organizations To Address TB-related Issues Among Persons With Disabilities in Uganda

LUCOHECO is strategically positioned to empower mobilizers or Champions to promote TB Prevention Services. These Champions are potential trainees who can become TB Prevention Paramedics.

TB Prevention targeting Persons with Disabilities stems from the Universal and Constitutional requirements for treatment of all persons with respect and dignity.

What is the objective of persons with disability Act?

The preamble of this act clearly states that it aims to uphold the dignity of every Person with Disability (PwD) in the society and prevent any form of discrimination. The act also facilitates full acceptance of people with disability and ensures full participation and inclusion of such persons in the society.

What is the total population of Persons with Disabilities in Uganda?  

According to Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), there are approximately 4.5 million Ugandans with a disability. The Uganda Bureau of Statistics Census Report (UBOS 2016) indicated that 12.4% of the Ugandan population lives with some form of disability implying that approximately 4.5 million Ugandans are persons with disability hence a development concern. This Report showed that disability was more prevalent amongst women (15 per cent) than men (10 per cent); higher in rural areas (15 per cent) than in urban areas (12 per cent). This nearly correlated with the World Health Organization Report of 2010 which put the global disability prevalence rate at 15%.

 How are Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) exposed to vulnerabilities to TB infections? 

People with Disabilities are more likely to have TB because of the social factors that expose them to vulnerabilities and adversities. These in turn make it easier for them to acquire TB. Persons who have immigrated from areas of the world with high rates of TB, children less than 5 years of age who have a positive TB test and groups with high rates of TB transmission, such as homeless persons, people with irregular income means, injection drug users, and persons with HIV infection.

At LUCOHECO, we shall endeavour to engage all PWDs in accessing knowledge and skills empowering them to reduce and eventually overcome adversities and vulnerabilities exposing them to TB. 

It is our statement of belief that "when empowered Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) are facilitated to enjoy agency, navigate life autonomously, contribute to the development of self and the society through intuitive productivity and take hold of the means of self-determination."