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REPORT FOR ARUWE BICYCLE PROJECT ON BUSI ISLAND

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Action for Rural Womens Empowerment Uganda, Busi Island Bicycle Project Report 2012- Submitted to Wheels4Life

Action for Rural Womens Empowerment (ARUWE) received funding of 4,500 USD from Wheels4Life to support Village Health Teams (VHTs) on Busi Island with bicycles. This was aimed at easing their movement as they carried out health and hygiene trainings, giving out medication and monitoring among the various households. This project was a response to the need that was put forward by the VHTs. VHTs are voluntary community structures instituted by the government to provide health services to the rural communities. For a long time, the VHTs had called upon the government to support them to ease their movement as they carried out their work but in vain. ARUWE values and works with community structures to carry out programs in the community for ownership and sustainability purposes. VHTs are one of the structures ARUWE works with for health promotion and HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns in communities. With the kind support of Wheels4Life, 61 VHTs on Busi Islands have bicycles to increase efficiency. Since ARUWE works in harmony with the government, the Wakiso district Health Officer, the VHT coordinator in Wakiso and the Local Council 3 of Busi Island were informed of the project.

Bicycles being transported to Busi Islands via water To promote ownership and sustainability, the VHTs were urged to contribute towards the assembling of the bicycles. This was greatly welcomed by the VHTs.

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One of the VHTs with the Bicycles

Bicycles after being assembled in the ARUWE office

Action for Rural Womens Empowerment Uganda, Busi Island Bicycle Project Report 2012- Submitted to Wheels4Life

On the 20th December 2012, ARUWE organized the ceremony to give out bicycles to the VHTs. Present were the the Wakiso district Health Officer, the VHT coordinator of Wakiso district and the Local Council 3 of Busi Island. During the ceremony, the leaders greatly appreciated the Wheels4Life for the kind support given to the VHTs. With the availability of bicycles, VHTs would be able to access medicines in time to give out to the community. VHTs would also be able to access trainings that involved long distances given the ease in mobility.

Mr Kabuye LC111 addressing the VHTs

Sister Nakayiza addressing the VHTS

The VHTs plus their local leaders pleadged to open up a workshop for bicycle repair as they were solely responsible for the maintaining bicycles. The local leaders were to work together with ARUWE and VHTs to monitor the bicycle use. Discplinary measures were to be observed so as to maintain the bicycle use.

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The local council 3 (Mr Kabuye- left), the Wakiso district health officer (Sister Nakayiza), ARUWE acting executive director (Irene Sentudde) and the Wakiso VHT coordinator (Mr Mpiima) handing over the bicycle to one of the VHTs. Action for Rural Womens Empowerment Uganda, Busi Island Bicycle Project Report 2012- Submitted to Wheels4Life

VHTs so excited to receive their bicycles. What VHTs say, For such a long time, we have pleaded with the government to provide bicycles in order to ease our work as we have to move long distances while carrying out our health campaigns among households. At last our prayers have been answered thanks to ARUWE and the generous support of Wheels4Life. This intervention will enable us carry out our work more effectively and reach more households than before. Thank you for making a difference in our rural communities, said VHT Ddamulira with a smile on his face.

We are so happy that we have been remembered. Since Busi is an Island, it is usually not given consideration by many government programs or even Non-Government Organizations. We are so thankful to ARUWE and Wheels4Life. We know that our community is truly blessed with this intervention. We shall be able to get medicines in time and distribute them among people. We also pledge to maintain these bicycles to continue doing the good work in our community. This is indeed our Christmas gift, said enthusiastic VHT Nakubulwa.

VHT Kisiki Harriet was so grateful that this intervention had considered women too. It is a rare occurrence for women to be considered for such an intervention even when they are doing equally the same work as men. We cant express our gratitude enough to ARUWE, Wheels4Life and our leaders to allow us to be benefit from this bicycle project, she concluded.

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Action for Rural Womens Empowerment Uganda, Busi Island Bicycle Project Report 2012- Submitted to Wheels4Life

I will never forget a time I had to monitor a pregnant woman, said VHT Kabuuka. When her time for delivery was due, there were no means of transporting her to the health Centre which was about 4km. She had to endure the pain till a Good Samaritan offered his bicycle to transport her. Now that we have these many bicycles, I believe our pregnant women will not suffer so much getting transportation in crucial time.

VHT Kabuuka addressing the VHTs during the hand over ceremony From the VHTs, the local leaders and ARUWE, we are grateful for this wonderful Christmas gift form Wheels4Life. Thank you very much

Compiled by Agnes Mirembe- Programs Manager Sylvia Nalubega- Projects Officer Timothy Gasana- Field Coordinator

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Action for Rural Womens Empowerment Uganda, Busi Island Bicycle Project Report 2012- Submitted to Wheels4Life

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