08ua-5221 - Effectively respond to the impact and consequences of HIV/AIDS
Uganda National Farmers Federation (UNFFE) is a home to over 500.000 farmers across Uganda. These farmers are mainly rural; Mainly depend on Agro economy; Populations shouldering burden and impact of HIV/AIDS; Inadequate health system and limited access and Food insecure communities. With a total of 25.8 million People Living with HIV and AIDS by the end of 2005, Sub-Saharan Africa remains the home of more than 64 % of the total number of people living with HIV and AIDS world wide (40.3 million). Uganda is amongst the most affected countries. Uganda National Farmers Federation (UNFFE) recognizes the impact of HIV and AIDS in reversing development gains of the work that we do. The Federation further recognizes that our development interventions if not well-planned can predispose people we serve (farmers) to HIV infection and also increase their vulnerability to impact of AIDS. UNFFE believes that HIV/AIDS epidemic is a serious threat to agricultural development and Uganda’s countryside and contributes to hunger and poverty. The HIV/AIDS virus infects mainly the most productive section of the farming population in Uganda; that is people between 15 and 50 years old. Therefore, AIDS reduces formal and informal sector productivity. It undermines family stability and security and erodes savings and investment at all levels as less land is being cultivated and farmers being forced to sell land and livestock in order to be able to pay for medical and funeral costs. This is why, Uganda National Farmers Federation is proposing to conduct training for its staff to be able to appreciate and handle issues of HIV/AIDS at the workplace and also mainstream HIV/AIDS in planning UNFFE and its member activities. UNFFE will also conduct a baseline survey in order to understand impacts, challenges and opportunities of UNFFE prior HIV/AIDS interventions and also find out the real impact of HIV/AIDS amongst its constituents (farmers) in Uganda. The results of the baseline will be used to direct UNFFE response in mitigating the impacts of HIV/AIDS amongst farmers, and also form a basis for policy advocacy with a view of fronting farmers issues in regard to HIV/AIDS at the level of national HIV/AIDS policy planning and National response.