Organisation Profile

MPK was established in Kitgum by some members of a Lay Catholic Movement known as Christ is Communion and Life (CCL) from Christ the King Parish, Kitgum Mission and Palabek Parish. It’s on this background that it emerged to mitigate the challenges and dilemma posed by HIV/AIDS and to support one of their founding members who had HIV/AIDS. It is one of the oldest organization in the district that has come up and responded to HIV/AIDS prevention, care and the cross cutting issues of Sexual and Gender Based Violence, Poverty, stigma and discrimination.  
From its inception, MPK slowly and steadily extended its outlets basing on the community demand for its services.

We started with providing Home Base Care to People Living with HIV and AIDS ; adherence support monitoring, spiritual support, psychological support, nutrition support to bed ridden clients, provision of Home Base care Kits, medical support/treatment from home, referral and linkages with the health facilities. We also provided educational support to Orphans and Vulnerable Children.
 
The organization has since then expanded from having only volunteers to 14 paid staff currently. It has permanent office in Kitgum Town Council with coordinating centres in Pader, Lamwo and Districts. It initially operated only in Kitgum but it covers Pader and Lamwo Districts.  From the initial registration of less than 20 people (People Living with HIV and AIDS), it now has 1,275 active clients being provided with support related to HIV and AIDS. Death rate significantly reduced among the People Living with HIV and AIDS due to the present of Medical and social support related to HIV and AIDS that has as well reduced the rate of children being orphaned. There is an increase in the number of individuals in need of accessing HIV Counselling and Testing.

Currently, we are undertaking Home Base Care to People Living with HIV and AIDS; Educational support to Orphans and Vulnerable Children; Sustainable Comprehensive Respond for Vulnerable children and their families (SCORE) and HIV Counselling and Testing (Community Sensitization on HIV prevention, Care and support.

Apparently, 850 clients on Anti Retro Viral Therapy are being monitored by the adherence counsellors and adherence promoters in the areas of operation. We have 350 OVC being provided with educational support ranging from Nursery, primary, tertiary and university levels (197 have completed their studies and earning their livings independently).  We have 2500 people received HIV Counselling and Testing over the last two years.

Above all, fundraising is a critical challenge that makes bridging the gaps in the program implementation quite a nightmare. The organization right now faces very critical challenges in transport which is needed in conducting outreach activities.  It becomes hard to providing nutritional support to bed ridden clients who are helpless and providing support Orphans and Vulnerable Children to meet especially the educational needs. Sustaining the coordinating offices in the outreaches of the organization is also challenging.

We would like to acknowledge and thank Inter Religious Council of Uganda; AVSI; Kitgum Government Hospital; St. Joseph’s Hospital; National NGO Forum and all other stakeholders (CBO, NGO and Government institutions) for their support.