Public Health

Malaria Control: An Urgent Problem

Malaria kills nearly one million people in Africa every year, and close to 100,000 in Uganda. The most vulnerable groups are unborn children, children below five and pregnant women. Nearly half of hospital inpatient pediatric deaths are due to malaria.

Pilgrim Africa has been working for the last 5 years in integrated malaria control interventions in the NE of Uganda, and this year (2012) has an $800,000 grant from Global Fund Round 10 to bring lifesaving training in the use of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for malaria diagnosis in very rural areas.

Pilgrim Africa is also partnering with the Ugandan Ministry of Health to scale up malaria control nationally.

Community Health

The Beacon Medical Center operates year-round in Soroti Town serving the Beacon of Hope School and surrounding community of more than 600 rural poor families with much needed medical care. The clinic helps cover the health needs of the rural poor in the Teso region, where there is very little regular medical service and no emergency care of any kind.

Trauma Treatment Program: Thousands of Ugandans bear severe trauma from prolonged war and displacement, loss of family members and dehumanizing abuses. Effective treatment for the kind of large-scale social trauma faced by northeastern Ugandans is an enormous challenge. In addition to individual sessions provided by our trained trauma counselors, community-based therapies, including group counseling, drama, dance, singing and celebration are offered and encouraged.

Preventing Child Blindness: Through partnerships, Pilgrim delivers vitamin A and deworming supplementation to children in Uganda, Southern Sudan, and Uganda. These doses of Vitamin A and de-worming make significant improvements in the overall health of nutritionally-challenged children, and specifically help to prevent blindness.