Webmasters March 25, 2022 No Comments

World TB Day “Invest to End TB. Save Lives”

On March 24, we highlight World Tuberculosis Day to bring attention to the TB epidemic’s devastating health, economic, and social consequences and to step up efforts to end it. Robert Koch announced in 1882 that he had discovered the bacteria that causes tuberculosis, which led to the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

Numbers

TB is the number 4 cause of death among communicable, maternal neonatal, and nutritional diseases. There is an estimated increase in the number of people who develop TB (90,000). Among them 12,000 were children. 7,400 people died because of TB.

Uganda is ranked among 20 countries worldwide with the highest TB infection burden. According to a health official, 3,646 TB cases couldn’t be diagnosed last year in the Lango sub-region, which is among the three sub-regions with the highest burden of TB infections.

World TB Day aims to raise awareness about TB in the Lango sub-region, which is among the three regions of the country with the highest burden, making TB a public health problem in Uganda, and that is why the Lango sub-region will be hosting the event.

Covid-19 negatively impacted the fight against TB in Uganda, since a lot occurred in between.

As a result of all the restrictions put in place with Covid-19, we missed diagnosing 10,739 TB cases from January to December 2020, meaning these people are at large infecting others in the community.

Uganda and the rest of the world are preparing to celebrate world Tuberculosis Day (TB) on March 24, 2022, and Lira City has been selected to host the affair.

TB remains one of the deadliest infectious diseases in the world. Each day, more than 4100 people die from TB and over 28,000 people become ill with this preventable and curable disease. Approximately 66 million lives have been saved through global efforts to combat TB since 2000. Although decades of progress have been made in the fight against TB, the COVID-19 pandemic has reversed those gains. In 2020, TB deaths increased for the first time in over a decade.

 

Invest to End TB. Save Lives. World TB Day 2022 stresses increasing resources to fight TB and achieve the commitment made by global leaders in order to end TB. Ensure equitable access to prevention and care in line with WHO’s drive to attain Universal Health Coverage, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic that threatens the progress towards End TB.

Millions of more lives will be saved if more investment is made, accelerating the end of the TB epidemic.

According to World Health Organization, 66,000,000 lives saved since 2000 by global efforts to end TB. 9,900,000 people fell ill with TB in 2020 and 1,500,000 people died of TB in 20202.

Call for action.

  • Know the causes, symptoms, and preventive measures of TB.
  • Get tested, get treated, and follow your doctor’s advice if you think you have TB
  • Don’t believe in myths or misinformation
  • Stand up against TB stigma and discrimination
  • Invest in resources, support, care, and information to defeat TB.
  • Engage young people in TB advocacy.
  • Provide resources, advice, and support to TB patients in the community.
  • Promote the provision of high-quality essential TB services during the COVID pandemic;
  • Integrate TB into routine health interventions;
  • Provide compassionate care that respects human rights and is stigma-free;
  • Make sure you are trained and have the latest guidance on TB treatment and care available to you

 

 

World Water day; “GROUNDWATER, MAKING THE INVISIBLE VISIBLE”

 “GROUNDWATER, MAKING THE INVISIBLE VISIBLE”

Each year on 22 March, World Water Day draws attention to the importance of freshwater and argues for sustainable management of freshwater resources. This involves addressing the global water crisis in support of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030.

The chemical elements hydrogen and oxygen make up water, a substance that exists in gaseous, liquid, and solid states. Water is one of the most abundant and critical compounds on earth. As a tasteless and odorless liquid at room temperature, it has the remarkable property of dissolving many other substances. Living organisms depend on the versatility of water as a solvent. Living organisms rely on aqueous solutions, such as blood and digestive juices, for biological processes. Life is believed to have originated in the aqueous solutions of the world’s oceans.

Importance of water.

Water is very important in many fields in Uganda for example in Agriculture, to people, etc.

World Water day; “GROUNDWATER: MAKING THE INVISIBLE VISIBLE”

The health of people

  • Water boosts energy. It provides essential nutrients to all of our cells, including muscle cells, preventing muscle fatigue.
  • Water helps with weight loss. It keeps you full longer without adding any calories to your diet. Water and foods with a high water content can help you lose weight.
  • Water aids digestion. Constipation and other abdominal issues can be treated with water, especially for people suffering from IBS. Water aids digestion.
  • Water detoxifies. Moves toxins out of your system faster, and optimizes kidney function. Dehydration impairs kidney function.
  • Water hydrates skin. Water is the most effective way to prevent wrinkles and aging of the skin.

Agriculture.

According to the World bank “Water is a critical input for agricultural production and plays an important role in food security”. Water in Agriculture has the following uses

  • As of now, many people around the world are using irrigation methods to improve the quality of agricultural products hence leading to food security.
  • Spraying pests on the plants and insects on the animals.
 Water for Livestock
  • Drinking water for livestock. To maintain their feed intake, animals need access to a ready water supply that is uncontaminated.
  • Animals need water for their healthy development and growth. The quality of end products such as meat and milk depends on the quality of animal feed including water.

 

Over the years world water day has been celebrated and themes have been created to create awareness all around the world. Below are some of the themes that have been used;

Years Theme
2014 Water and Energy
2015 Water and Sustainable Development
2016 Better Water, Better  Job
2017 Why Waste Water?
2018 Nature for water
2019 Leaving No One Behind
2020 Water and Climate Change
2021 Valuing Water
The theme of World Water day 2022

“Groundwater, Making the Invisible Visible” is the theme of world water day 2022. Groundwater is water found underground in aquifers which are a geological formation of rocks, sands, and gravels that hold substantial Quantities of water.

It feeds springs, rivers, lakes, and wetlands and leaks into oceans. In the same way, it is recharged mainly from rain and snowfall infiltrating the ground. Groundwater is the largest source of fresh water on earth. Despite it being stored underneath the surface it is often underlooked.

 International Groundwater Resources Assessment Centre (IGRAC) and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) initiated a World Water Day exclusively focused on this resource.

World water day campaign is built around three main groundwater-related topics namely:

First the visible ingredient in the food.

Secondly, a resource without borders.

Thirdly, a finite supply.

In Uganda, 61% of the country’s water is from a groundwater source, accessed from springs and boreholes around Lake Victoria and south-western Uganda. The major water supply in the rural, semi-arid areas in Uganda is from the Groundwater.

Water problems aren’t just about water but it’s a problem of life, environment, and health. It’s about time we rethink how we value water.  Every drop matters. Don’t let the pandemic lead us to scarcity. Do the earth a favor and be a water saver this world water day.

Groundwater will become more and more significant as climate change worsens. To sustainably manage this precious resource, we must work together. Despite being out of sight, groundwater must not be forgotten.

 

 

Webmasters March 17, 2022 No Comments

IWD 2022 CAMPAIGN THEME: #BREAKTHEBIAS

IWD 2022 CAMPAIGN THEME: #BREAKTHEBIAS

Being a woman is like walking from one country to another. In a world where men think they have the power over everything including women and their bodies. We live in a society where women think they are met to just be given by men. And this makes them lazy not to work for themselves. A girl grows up being told that the result is to get married. So there is no reason for her to go to school. But all that has to stop today and now. Women can be anything like men or even more.

Women and men must question their conscious and subconscious views if they want to #BreakTheBias.

#BreakTheBias is the way to go. We have to make sure we break all the histories that put women down in all sectors and areas in our countries and societies. Men should learn how to handle women and vice versa.

According to research, by the age of 2-3 years old, children begin to grasp basic associations between objects and activities, including the relationship between gender and sex. Children’s choices of sports, school subjects, and attitudes begin to be influenced by these stereotypes as they enter primary school.

It is particularly common in societies that pressure children to conform to their gender. Such as those where boys are pressured to withhold their emotions to show strength, for children to learn that conformity will lead to positive treatment if they follow the norms.

We are prevented from truly being free because of our preconceived notions about others and ourselves. To #BreakTheBias, we need to understand that if we feel limited by our gender, it is probably due to bias rather than ability.

VISUALISE A WORLD WHERE GENDER IS EQUAL.

We envision a world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive. Diversity should be valued and celebrated. Together, we will advance the equality of women. It’s time to #BreakTheBias collectively.

Throughout the day, we are all responsible for our rights and actions.

Together, we can eliminate bias from our communities.

Our workplaces can become more diverse.

We can eliminate bias in schools, colleges, and universities.

By working together, we can break the biases – on International Women’s Day (IWD) and beyond.

 

Volunteering in Uganda calls upon the global community to support women to realize their full potential as leaders in all professional spheres.

That said, be part of the call by volunteering with us.

Webmasters March 8, 2022 No Comments

GENDER EQUALITY TODAY FOR A SUSTAINABLE TOMORROW. INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2022

Every year, International Women’s Day falls on 8 March. In it, ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities can reflect on their progress, demand change, and celebrate their acts of courage and determination.

HISTORY OF THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY.

On February 28, 1909, the Socialist Party of America organized the first National Women’s Day in New York. Labor activist Theresa Malkiel suggested this and it commemorated protests against garment workers in the city. Later in 1910, German delegates took inspiration from socialists in the United States and proposed a day for women, although no specific date was declared.

Women’s Day was celebrated by the United Nations in 1975, and the UN General Assembly proclaimed March 8 International Women’s Day for women’s rights and world peace in 1977. The UN has been celebrating the day every year with a different theme.

In addition to celebrating women’s achievements on this day, it also raises awareness about women’s equality and accelerates gender parity, as well as raises funds for various female-focused charities.

The women’s day comes at a time when the women’s and girl’s rights clock is going backward in most of the countries for example Uganda due to the pandemic. COVID-19 pandemic has kept girls and women out of schools and workplaces opening them up to poverty and rising violence. Women are the most unpaid workers. Also, women are targets of violence and abuse, just because of their gender. Women are outrageously under-represented in halls of power and the boardrooms of business.

Uganda

In Uganda, women suffer from many rights issues, such as domestic violence and sexual abuse. Approximately half of all women have experienced some form of domestic violence from their husbands or partner. In addition, many women live in poverty and have limited opportunities to get an education.

Although some government efforts have been made to improve the status of women in Uganda, many say that these efforts have not yet made a significant impact.

 

 

International women’s day 2022 theme.

This year’s theme “Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow” is to remind us that women bear the brunt of climate change and environmental degradation.

Among the greatest global challenges of the 21st century is advancing gender equality within the context of the climate crisis and disaster risk reduction.

Climate change is increasingly recognized as having a greater impact on women than on men. This is because women make up the majority of the world’s poor and depend on the natural resources that climate change threatens the most.

Moreover, women and girls are powerful and effective change-makers for climate adaptation and mitigation. Globally, they are engaged in sustainability initiatives and their participation and leadership result in more effective climate action.

Impact of climate change and inequality

The Climate Crisis is not gender-neutral. The greatest impacts of climate change affect women and girls. This amplifies existing gender inequalities and poses unique threats to their livelihoods, health, and safety.

Around the world, women rely more on yet have less access to, natural resources. Food, water, and fuel are disproportionately sourced by women in many regions. In low- and lower-middle-income countries, women are disproportionately employed in agriculture; during times of drought and erratic rainfall, they work harder for the survival of their families.

Women and girls across the globe are becoming more vulnerable to gender-based violence as climate change fuels conflict, including conflict-related sexual violence, human trafficking, child marriage, and other forms of violence.

Due to long-standing gender inequalities that create disparities in information, mobility, decision-making, and access to resources and training, women are less likely to survive a disaster and are more likely to be injured. After a disaster, women, and girls have a harder time accessing relief and assistance. In turn, this creates a vicious circle of vulnerability to future disasters, further eroding their livelihoods, wellbeing, and recovery.

By limiting access to services and health care, climate change and disasters threaten the health of women and girls. It also increases risks related to maternal and child health. Research indicates that extreme heat increases stillbirth rates, and climate change is increasing the spread of vector-borne diseases, such as malaria, dengue fever, and Zika virus, which cause worse maternal and neonatal outcomes.

MESSAGE FROM THE UN CHIEF ON THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY.

He says “it’s time to turn the clock forward for every woman and girl” and this will be through;

First, by guaranteeing quality education for every girl, so that they can build the lives they want and help make the world a better place for us all.

Secondly, this can be through massive investments in women’s training and decent work.

Next through effective action to end gender-based violence.

Then through bold action to protect our planet.

Through universal care that is fully integrated into social protection systems.

And through targeted measures like gender quotas so we can all benefit from women’s ideas, experience, and leadership everywhere decisions are made.

Gender inequality is essentially a question of power, in a male-dominated world and a male-dominated culture. And power relations must be reversed. We need more women in environment ministers, business leaders and presidents, and prime ministers. Efforts should be made to believe in women that they can push countries to address the climate crisis, develop green jobs, and build a more just and sustainable world.

We cannot emerge from the pandemic with the clock spinning backward on gender equality. There is a need to turn the clock forward on women’s rights. The time is now.

 

Message from Volunteering in Uganda on International women’s day.

Volunteering in Uganda joins the world to celebrate women’s day. We believe that women can do what men can do or even be better. They just need a chance, power, and platform to exercise their rights and become the better version of themselves.

#ClimateAction systematically ignores the rights, priorities, and needs of women and girls, who are uniquely affected by climate change. Climate response efforts must include those most affected by climate change.

Volunteer with us to create awareness and strengthen women to take up their positions.

Stand out. Follow your dreams.