Islamic Medical Association

Transcription

1 Islamic Medical Association of Uganda P.O.Box 2773, Kampala, Uganda Tel: Fax:

2 Background The Islamic Medical Association of Uganda (IMAU) is a registered nongovernmental organization established in The Association consists of over 350 Muslim health professionals who form the General Assembly, the association's highest authority. The leadership of the association consists of eleven members of the Executive Committee headed by the Chairman. IMAU has branches in 12 districts of Uganda. Organisation mission The main goal of IMAU is to promote the health of the people of Uganda. This is incorporated in IMAU's mission statement, which is as follows:- " "The overall goal of IMAU is the achievement of an Islamic, conscious, knowledgeable, effective, efficient, cooperative, sustainable, expert Muslim Medical community that uses Islam in serving the people of Uganda in order to promote a healthy and productive life. The basis of IMAU's motto"o n Allah's selfless Health Service". I M AU Vision Excellence in professionalism. 2. Well established modem health units. 3. Disciplined IMAU members with good moral conduct. I, 4. Good managers. 5. High popularity. 6. Healthy and enlightened communities served by IMAU 7. Effective communication between IMAU members and the communities. 8. IMAU provision of scholarships. 9. Coverage of the whole country. 10. Provision of employment opportunities to its members. 11. Adequate income for IMAU members. 12. Registration of all qualified Muslim health workers under IMAU. 13. Voluntary subscription to IMAU with both money and loyalty. 14. Islamic practising IMAU members. 15. Effective coordination of IMAU branches by leadership. 16. Exemplary and responsible leadership. 17. Active leadership within the community by women members. 18. Women members leading is upbringing children Islamically. 19. Active participation of IMAU governmentand N GC programmes as partners. 20. International recognition anc credibility. 21. Self sustaining and self accounting organisation 22. United active members.

3 Family AIDS Education and Prevention Through Imams (FAEPTI) The FAEPTI project, which covers 15 districts in Uganda, was started in In this project IMAU works closely with Muslim communities to combat AIDS using the Islamic approach. This approach includes the following:- 1. Education of communities on the scientific information about AIDS prevention, care and support. 2. Education on Islamic teachings that support AIDS prevention, and the care and support of those infected and affected by AIDS. 3. Use of the Islamic administrative structure from the Mufti at the top to the Imams (Mosque leaders) at the grassroots to deliver AIDS related education and services. The Muslim Leaders in Uganda code-named this snuggle the Jihad on AIDS. The Jihad on AIDS is a continuation of the Jihad Nafs (Jihad of the soul). This involves striving to control the soul in order to avoid evil. The Jihad Nafs was declared by Prophet Muhammad (SAW) over 1400 years ago. The IMAU strategy was identified by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) as one of the examples of "Best Practice" for mobilizing Muslim communities to combat AIDS. A booklet entitled "AIDS education through Imams: A spiritually motivated community effort in Uganda" and a video entitled "The Long Jihad: A bitter battle against AIDS" were produced. His Excellency the President of Uganda, Mr. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, launched these documents in March The Imam visiting the sick and praying for them

4 Community Action for AIDS Prevention (CAAP project) The Community Action for AIDS Prevention project (CAAP) in Kampala is the second of IMAU's AIDS Education activities. It works within the urban setting to provide HIV/AIDS training to religious and community leaders. CAAP presented workshops in Kampala to a variety of religious leaders. In addition, CAAP reached beyond religious leaders and trained groups of bicyde taxi drivers (boda boda boys) and market vendors to pass on information about HIV/AIDS through their interaction with the public at market stals and while delivering passengers to their destinations. To date, the 70 community groups that have participated at CAAP's Kampala workshops have included: 19 mosques, 29 Catholic and Protestant churches, 4 evangelical churches, 16 local council parishes, 1 group of bola-bola boys, and 1 group of market vendors. Madarasa AIDS Education and Prevention (MAEP project) In this project, the Imams and a selected team of youth assistants were trained to integrate AIDS education and prevention within Madarasa education. MAEP worked with 350 Madarasa schools in Kamuli and Mpigi Districts. Madarasa schools are informal schools attached to mosques; they teach young people important principles of Islamic culture and behaviour. Madarasa students learn about HIV/AIDS transmission, prevention, and control. They are taught how to care for HIV/AIDS patients and are encouraged to help people in their own communities who are living with HIV/AIDS. Some of the Madarasa peer educators

5 Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) project In this project the Imams and their assistants were trained to educate their communities on issues of treatment and prevention of sexually transmitted infections. Community Mobilization Intervention Model for Prevention of Mother to Child HIV Transmission (PMTCT) and Antiretroviraldrugs (ART) project In this project IMAU plans to educate selected religious and community leaders, and their assistants, of different faiths in Kampala on issues of PMTCT and antiretioviral treatment. The religious leaders include those from Mosques, Catholic churches, Anglican churches and Independent churches. Other community leaders included local council leaders. In addition, IMAU plans to use mass media to reinforce the education of the communities on PMTCT and antiretioviral treatment. The main objective of this project is to develop a community mobilization intervention model for PMTCT and ARV treatment. Community Reproductive Health Education and Promotion (CRHEP) Community Reproductive Health Workers were trained to educate their communities about issues of reproductive health and to distribute contraceptives to those who needed them. This project took place in Masaka and Rakai districts. Service Expansion and 'Technical Support (SEATS) In this project nurses, midwives, medical assistants and doctors were trained to provide quality family planning services in 17 Muslim health centers. Equipment was distributed to these centers.

6 Strengthening Uganda Muslim Community Response to AIDS The Islamic Medical Association of Uganda is strengthening the capacity of the Muslim community to respond to the HIV epidemic in their localities. This includes strengthening the human resource base, physicalinfrastructure and financial base to be able to catalyse and manage an expanded response by Muslim communities, through: Strengthening the capacity of Muslim leaders to respond to the HIV/AIDS epidemic and setting up model centres in the districts for delivery of integrated AIDS-related services for prevention of AIDS, mitigation of the impact of AIDS and capacity building of the communities to combat AIDS. IMAU facilitators conducting a training of trainers workshop Saidina A bubakar Nursing Home Established by IMAU in 1990 at Bakuli in Kampala District, it provides general medical services, family planning services, immunisation and health education for community mobilization.

7 Saidina A bubakar Hospital and Training Center IMAU is in the process of constructing this hospital and training center on a 12-acre piece of land at Wattuba, 14km on Kampala Bombo road. The hospital complex when completed will consist of a 128 bed hospital, training facilities, conference facilities, a mosque and the International Resource Center for promotion of the Islamic approach to HIV/AIDS prevention and control. The first phase of the hospital complex is now under construction. The training facilities will be planned to cater for various needs of Muslim communities and other communities both nationally and internationally. For example there is need to train in service delivery, research, monitoring, evaluation and coordination of integrated AIDS related services using the Islamic approach. This training is required both at national and international levels. Saidina Abubakar Hospital and training center will be designed to address these issues. We hope Saidina Abubakar Hospital can become a national and international center of excellence for the promotion of the Islamic approach to HIV/AIDS prevention and control, Inshallah. We also hope the center will eventually develop similar approaches to address other health-related issues. The biggest challenge IMAU faces is to mobilise enough resources both nationally and internationally to realize this idea. IMAU therefore, welcomes all support and advice on this issue. International collaboration IMAU is a member of the Federation of Islamic Medical Associations. IMAU has sent delegations to Malaysia, South Africa, Tanzania and Nigeria to train Muslim leaders in the Islamic approach to HIV/AIDS prevention and control. IMAU organised the first International Muslim Leaders Consultation on HIV/AIDS in Kampala. Participants from over 20 countries participated in this consultation. IMAU is a member on the International Advisory Committee for organising subsequent IMLCs. Participants at the 1st International Muslim Leaders Consultation on HIV/AIDS in Kampala

8 IMAU Organisation Chart Collaborating agencies USAID, CDC, UNICEF, UNAIDS, UNDP, ActionAid Uganda, WHO, Pathfinder International, UMSC, TASO, AIDS Information Center, UNASO, Uganda AIDS Commission, International Islamic Charitable Organisation, Africa Muslims Agency, Muslim World League, Al- Bukhari Foundation, Malaysian AIDS Council. Target Audience All people of Uganda but with a comparative advantage to the Muslim communities. IMAU members at their annual convention AMON- ANIIMMIL