The Covid 19 pandemic that started its effect on Uganda in March 2020 where we saw the whole country on lockdown as declared by the president of Uganda. There were restrictions in movements, and many of the services came to a standstill
These sudden changes left most of our children with no access to medical care, food, and other support services and as a result there were reports of children with disabilities dying due to hunger, missed medication/reviews. There was also a significant increase in defilement, abuse and neglect of children and young adults with disabilities.
Mukisa sought permission from the ministry of health to start an emergency response to the needs of the children and their families. This included transporting children to hospitals, providing medical care and medicine for those with chronic conditions, provision of food, emergency rescue, care for sexually abused children and ensuring that they got the justice they deserved by working with the police to ensure that the perpetrators were apprehended and that justice was served. These efforts were later joined by other organisations, individuals and government entities such as Kampala Capital city Authority (KCCA) to form a Covid-19 emergency rescue committee for children with disabilities.
4320 children were reached with different services in the districts of kampala, Wakiso, Mpigi, Luwero, Nakasongola, Masaka, Jinja,and Napak in karamoja (some still get nutritional and medical support as their families have not yet recovered from the effects of the pandemic.
Special thanks go to:
- CRANE Network
- Father’s Heart Ministries
- Gem Foundation
- The Deaf Alliance
- Shynea Uganda
- Special Children’s Trust
- KCCA
- Our Donors, friends and well-wishers who made this possible