Kitgum Girls Education
In Kitgum northern Uganda health facilities are lacking. Only two hospitals are functioning and there are only 25 health units, 22 are government operated and three are run by charities. Due to the insecurity and remoteness of internally displaced persons camps from the main town centre, few trained medical workers wish to work in the district. The understaffed health unit in Kitgum is serving over 8,000 people.
The situation is compounded because education systems have been paralyzed resulting in few students attending medical and nursing schools or even completing high school.
University government scholarship to fund students in need have been made available, but students in Kitgum do not qualify as a result of their low grades.
AMREF is:
- Renovating schools in the district, with a special focus on science laboratories
- Renovating and expanding girls’ dormitories
- Training girls from the community on food and nutrition, personal and community hygiene, reproductive health and HIV/AIDS prevention and education.
- Training girls on becoming peer health educators within the community
- Helping conduct community facilitation meetings to discuss better health practices within selected IDP camps in Kitgum
- Informing parents and community members of the benefits and importance of educating girls
- Educating girls in northern Uganda will remain a priority for AMREF as northern Uganda transitions from war to post conflict rehabilitation.
Major Project Funders:
Athletes for Africa - Gulu Walk
Find out more about AMREF's work with women and girls and other programs in:
Ethiopia
Kenya
South Africa
Southern Sudan
Tanzania
