A project to support vulnerable elderly women in Kagoma, south east Uganda
Food and medical care, January - December 2018
Sister Stephanie Kokomunya reports:
"At the start of the project, we visited many families to learn more about the different situations in which the vulnerable older women are living. Many families have sick relatives, who have great need of food and medical care and, in some cases, are completely destitute. Two of the elderly people are living in rented rooms and have no home of their own.
With the leaders of local women’s groups, we have organised ourselves to supply food to the elderly women twice a month. We have provided them with maize flour, beef, pork, beans, rice, sugar and ground nuts. 23 families have received food and are very grateful. The first time, we gave each family a kilo of rice, sugar and beef and a bar of soap. Then the second time each family received 2 kilos of sugar, rice, maize flour, beans, groundnuts, a kilo of beef and a bar of soap. Some of these families have received provisions more than four times.
We have also organised for the women to have a medical check-up, so that we could understand their health needs better. 28 women went for a check-up and have received treatment according to their needs. Some of the sick have showed signs of great improvement and are happy. One lady, a cancer patient, was almost dying, not because of cancer but from hunger and now she is better. Another lady says that, since she restarted to receive treatment, she has seen a great improvement and her pain has reduced greatly.
This project has brought life among the people and a smile on the faces of many. It has also enriched our apostolate. We thank Almighty God for his providence and May He continue to bless the work of your hands."
"At the start of the project, we visited many families to learn more about the different situations in which the vulnerable older women are living. Many families have sick relatives, who have great need of food and medical care and, in some cases, are completely destitute. Two of the elderly people are living in rented rooms and have no home of their own.
With the leaders of local women’s groups, we have organised ourselves to supply food to the elderly women twice a month. We have provided them with maize flour, beef, pork, beans, rice, sugar and ground nuts. 23 families have received food and are very grateful. The first time, we gave each family a kilo of rice, sugar and beef and a bar of soap. Then the second time each family received 2 kilos of sugar, rice, maize flour, beans, groundnuts, a kilo of beef and a bar of soap. Some of these families have received provisions more than four times.
We have also organised for the women to have a medical check-up, so that we could understand their health needs better. 28 women went for a check-up and have received treatment according to their needs. Some of the sick have showed signs of great improvement and are happy. One lady, a cancer patient, was almost dying, not because of cancer but from hunger and now she is better. Another lady says that, since she restarted to receive treatment, she has seen a great improvement and her pain has reduced greatly.
This project has brought life among the people and a smile on the faces of many. It has also enriched our apostolate. We thank Almighty God for his providence and May He continue to bless the work of your hands."