Gulu, Uganda Medical Clinic

For over 20 years, the country of Uganda has been embroiled in civil war. A major combatant group in this civil war is an oppressive, demonic cultic group called the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). This group, led by the murderous and inhumane Joseph Kony, has used the 10 commandments in an evil and distorted way to justify their mutilation and murder of the Acholi people, Kony’s own people. The LRA has staffed its army by abducting over 25,000 children and forcing them to fight as LRA soldiers. It is estimated that children make up 80% of the LRA forces and 1.6 million people have been forced to live in Internally Displaced People (IDP) camps due to LRA attacks throughout Uganda.

This tragedy has created an enormous hardship on a group of young women called “child-mothers”. For years, young girls (ages 10-14) have been abducted by the LRA and are forced to become LRA commanders’ wives (concubines), soldiers and domestic slaves. These are forced to travel throughout Uganda and live captive in the bush, often with children in tow, as the LRA wages war. Many have been injured, suffer from diseases (particular venereal diseases) and have been tremendously traumatized through this experience. Some have even been forced to kill in their home villages. After 10-15 years of this “lifestyle”, some manage to escape or are dismissed by young LRA commandos because they are “old” (e.g. 25) and young children are a burden. When they return to their home villages, they are often ostracized due to their connection with the LRA. Even if they are accepted, these women have had their childhoods ripped from them. They then face the almost impossible task of trying to provide for themselves and their children without any education or skills training.

The ministry of the Village of Hope provides hope to these child-mothers. They are provided the hope of the gospel and the love of Christ through evangelism, Bible teaching, discipleship, trauma counseling, chapel services and prayer huts. They are provided the hope of a better life for themselves and their children through job skills training, life skills training, temporary homes, a clean water well, microfinance to start homes and businesses, an orphanage, a preschool, and a recently opened primary school.

Proposal

Health care available to these child-mothers and their families is very limited and poor. What is available is often unavailable to the child-mothers due to lack of money. There is also a tremendous need to provide them with education on good health practices, prevention and nutrition. African Leadership, in partnership with Action International, recently completed construction of a medical clinic building (pictured above). Funding is required to stock the clinic with the necessary equipment and medicines, and to provide the salaries of the staff (medical supervisor, 2 clinic officers, laboratory technician, registered nurse, 2 nurses, 2 nursing assistants, 1 cleaner) to operate the clinic. This clinic would provide quality primary care both for the child-mothers and their families and for the local community.

Total Need

$25,000 one-time (for equipment and initial supply of medicines)

$35,000 per year (for staff salaries)