The Virginia Gildersleeve International Fund

Improved nutrition in Uganda through poultry rearing

GENDER INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (GIDP)
Uganda

“The usual process of obtaining nutrition improvement and care has been costly, but now I will be collecting poultry wastes such as droppings to fertilize soil and I [will] start growing vegetables for my malnourished child”.

Uganda and particularly Pallisa District, Kabwangasi Sub-County is among those areas hardest hit by HIVAIDS, women’s human rights abuses, and increased rate of early deaths and illness among rural population. These have severely affected the productivity of rural farming communities and have left the vast majority of women politically disenfranchised, more insecure economically, physically more vulnerable and emotionally more strained hence, finding any means for survival becoming a true challenge.

The “Improving household income and nutrition supplement among rural women living with HIV/AIDS and girls with Disabilities” project is a response to significantly change the situation and improve their lives through empowerment and support action of poultry rearing.

The first activity undertaken was the building of a poultry shed. Most of the construction work not requiring male participation was carried out by the project beneficiaries. The initial 30 women and girls with HIV/AIDS and/or disabilities were involved from the beginning of the project and participated in the planning. As a result, other women’s groups have requested a sharing of experiences as they form their own projects, spreading their expertise to other members of the community.


The chicken shed

Members carrying poultry shed liters to prepare for day-old chicks delivery	Members posing after the training session receiving the poultry water drinkers and feeders for chicks

Results

One of the members states, “the usual process of obtaining nutrition improvement and care has been costly, but now I will be collecting poultry wastes such as droppings to fertilize soil and I start growing vegetables for my malnourished child”.

Increased and improved community-based approach to HIV/AIDS management through increased knowledge, awareness and enhanced attitudinal change to avoid HIV/AIDS spread. Some members and around community have already learned that, “once you have balanced diet, you live longer with HIV/AIDS than one with unbalanced diet. They say, they needed to balance their diet before their disease (HIV/AIDS) progressed to the point where they require more intensive medical and palliative care to make their last years, months, weeks, days, hours and minutes free from pain, stigma, hopeless and humiliation. They also needed a faster, less cumbersome and more patient friendly livelihood improvement initiative, but here it is now! “

Local communities and local leaders have appreciated the results to the community. The project is seen as a strategy to mitigate the social economic impact of HIV/AIDS among the poorest of the poor women and the disabled. The project will address women’s employment and property inheritance rights and local community low productivity and food insecurity. The project will also improve nutrition status for both infants and breast feeding mothers especially those tested HIV positive and those who are willing to bear children with their partners.

Future Actions
Increased carbon content by the use of poultry wastes will enhance soil fertility and increase moisture retention, allowing more commercialized vegetable growing and improved incomes for participating women. As a result, combined with increased and improved household incomes, improved food security will be realized.

Diversification into fruits and vegetable growing will contribute to better nutrition, improved livelihoods for women, and reduced premature deaths.

“All my hopes of improved nutrition, my kids school fees and longer positive living with HIV/AIDS are in this project and promise to put in my effort and other contributions to see it succeeding…..”

Filed under: 2011,Agro-Business,Countries,Featured Projects,Grants Categories,HIV/AIDS,Health,Human Rights,UN Millenium Development Goals,Uganda,Year Funded

Improved nutrition in Uganda through poultry rearing

“The usual process of obtaining nutrition improvement and care has been costly, but now I will be collecting poultry wastes such as droppings to fertilize soil and I [will] start growing vegetables for my malnourished child”.

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