Post-Conflict Rehabilitation and HIV/AIDS

Edward Etanu Okiror ~ March 2012

HIV and AIDs is one of the biggest challenges in post-conflict rehabilitation in Northern Uganda. In 2009, CRWRC and partner, the Diocese of Lango, embarked on an intervention in Oyam District with Embrace AIDS funding. The work has given many individuals and families a new lease on a more hopeful life. More than 2,200 people living with HIV have been reached, counseled, and supported by home-based care volunteers. One of these renewed people is Sophia Owani, this is her story:

I’m Sophia Owani, and I am living positively with HIV and AIDS. It took me time to accept that my husband was infected with the virus. He became sick and was bed-ridden for two months in 2008.

Many of our relatives and friends advised my husband to go to the hospital, but he refused, believing that his friends had bewitched him. He passed away and left me to fend for myself and our young children. Life was not easy. I had no job skills. I became so worried and anxious that I often became sick as well. I was also advised many times by friends and family to go for HIV testing, but I hesitated because I was afraid to find out my status.

In 2010, a neighbor introduced me to a Home-Based Care Provider named Millie Babu. Millie was trained by the Diocese of Lango and was making home visits in our community. She was so friendly and I eventually told her my story. When she asked me whether I knew my status, I began to realize that many people were giving me the same advice. So I went to the health clinic for the HIV test and tested positive. The reality of facing death hit me hard. I felt like committing suicide with all my children so that they would not suffer even more with hunger and poverty as orphans after I die.

I told Millie Babu about my HIV test results, and she took time to counsel me. She encouraged me to join an HIV and AIDS support group in my community. Sometimes, Millie would come with a local church pastor to pray for me, and my life started changing. I began to believe that God still cares about me. I started taking ARV drugs and gained strength. I gained confidence that I could take care of my family’s needs like any other person.

I joined ‘Ajali Rwot,’ a group of 15 people who are living positively with HIV and AIDS. Through this group, I have access to a pair of oxen and ox plough, and received seeds for planting, two goats to raise, and a number of trainings. We meet as a group to encourage one another and support each other in a variety of activities. We plant and take care of gardens and contribute to a village savings and credit fund where we save, borrow money, and make loan payments at a low interest rate.

These activities are helping us pay school tuition fees for our children, providing food at home, money to buy medications, and enabling us to reach out to others in the community.

CRWRC is working with the Diocese of Lango to support 55 community groups like Ajali Rwot through Embrace AIDS in Northern Uganda.

Praise

• David, our first born son, passed his national exams very well and has now advanced to secondary school.
• Thank God for a good harvest for most communities in Northern Uganda in 2011.
• Thank God for many CRWRC participants like Sophia who have hope through HIV and AIDs outreach programs of the Diocese of Lango, and for people who have prayed and given financially to support such noble work.

Prayer

• Nodding disease is affecting the children of Northern Uganda. A number have died already and Health officials have failed so far to discover the cause and treatment for it. Pray that answers will be found and lives will be saved.
• Pray for rain. Most of our communities depend on subsistence farming for household livelihood. Without rain there will be much hunger.
• Pray for me as I travel and provide support to CRWRC’s partners in Northern Uganda (safety and freshness of spirit, mind, and body).
• God’s provision of the resources needed to continue transformational work of CRWRC in communities throughout Northern Uganda.
   

About Edward Etanu Okiror

Edward works in support of three dioceses of the Church of Uganda: Northern Uganda, Lango, and Kitgum (all in war-affected Northern Uganda). The focus is on resettlement of communities, agricultural rehabilitation and development, HIV and AIDs activities, education, capacity building of partner dioceses, conflict resolution, peace building, and micro-enterprise promotion.

Before joining CRWRC, Edward worked with CARE International and ZOA Refugee Care (a Dutch humanitarian organization) and the Pentecostal Assemblies of God Soroti office. He also worked with the government of Uganda in the Prime Minister’s Office, administering a program that dealt with the rehabilitation of those affected by the Northern Uganda War.

Edward is married to Millicent.  They have three boys: David (13), Benjamin (10) and Jesse (6). David is in Primary Five, Benjamin in Primary Two and Jesse is in Pre- primary Top Class. Milly serves as the Director of a Christian Nursery/Preschool in Soroti town.  

EMAIL:  eokiror@crwrc.org