ROCAF 2023 annual report - Romic Care Foundation

Domestic Violence: Any physical, sexual, or psychological abuse that takes place within a domestic or family relationship. This can include physical violence, such as hitting, shoving, or using weapons, as well as emotional abuse, such as namecalling, threats, or isolation. Domestic violence can happen to anyone, regardless of their gender, age, race, or socioeconomic status. It is important to

Forensic examination; Also known as forensic science, is the use of scientific methods and techniques to investigate crimes. This includes analyzing evidence, such as DNA, fingerprints, or other physical evidence, to identify suspects and gather information about the crime.

Rape: Non-consensual penetration of the vagina, anus, or mouth with penis, other body part or an object.

Physical assault: An act of physical violence that is not sexual in nature

1.0 Introduction and Background

1.1 Location

Located in Jinja city, Southern Division at Kidera road, Craft village Rubaga, opposite Jinja Gadaffi police barracks.

1.2 Registration status

𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 is an indigenous Community-Based organization, registered with jinja district in 2018[RegNO; JJA/09/2018/00456], also registered with jinja city in 2023 [JC/302/CBO/2023] and in 2023 registered as a Company limited by guarantee without shares [Reg NO; 80034378759011] operating in periurban and in hard-to-reach rural communities of Uganda. Though we serve the communities in various aspects, special focus is put on prevention and responding to Gender-based violence and restoring hope to the underprivileged and marginalized in society.

ROCAF Operates Romic medical Centre which is registered by MoH, Allied health Professionals council and offers health care services.

Romic Care Foundation (RCF) sources of funds include: – grants, membership subscriptions by community members, social enterprise, medical services fees from the medical Centre, in kind donations and individual donations

1.3 ORGANISATION FOCUS AREAS

Gender- based violence (GBV)
Child health, Maternal health and family planning
TB, HIV and Malaria
Environment, Climate change and Water sanitation and hygiene (WASH)
Clinical care health services (Outpatient services, In patient services)
Community health care services
Nutrition services
Communicable and non-communicable diseases
Social economic empowerment of Adolescent, Young Women and girls (AGWG).
Sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR)

1.4 Vision, Mission, Core values

1.4.1 Vision

The Leading Organization in Uganda to contribute to a society where all women, youth, children and elderly are treated with dignity and have sustainable livelihoods.

1.4.2 Mission

We exist to contribute to the social-economic development and advancement of women, youth, children and the elderly through promotion of gender equity, education, health, WASH, climate change, skilling of communities and sustainable development.

1.4.3 Core values

Professionalism

Empathy

Respect

Integrity

Ethical considerations in all our work

Confidentiality

1.5 Strategic Goals and objectives

1.5.1 Strategic Goal

To empower women, youth, children and the elderly with necessary skills, resources and knowledge that will enable them realize their potential in the struggle against poverty, illiteracy and lack of information.

1.5.2 Objectives

1.5.2.1. To provide communities with clean drinking water through lobbying and advocacy with local government, NGOs and other development partners.

1.5.2.2. To conduct sensitization campaigns against poverty among the women through provision of necessary skills, creation of awareness and making referrals as appropriate in order to address the challenges faced mainly by women.

1.5.2.3. To support orphans and other vulnerable children with quality education through provision of scholastic materials, uniforms and school fees.

1.5.2.4. To increase household income by mobilizing communities to participate in savings and micro-credit enterprises.

1.5.2.5. To prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and provide care & support to those affected and infected by the virus by providing prevention, care and support through responding to the causes of, and effects of HIV/AIDs amongst Women and youth through the prevention, community care and support of people living with Aids [PLWA].

1.5.2.6. To initiate programs geared towards improving community health, sanitation and environmental protection for sustainable development.

1.5.2.7. To work with National and International bodies, agencies, governments, Institutions among others both religious and non with similar objectives of supporting and promoting good moral, spiritual and social development of the people

2 Annual Performance Results

2.1 Key results on Gender based services

2.1.1 GBV Survivors received, examined and offered medical care.

Table1: GBV Survivors received, Examined and offered medical care (Collection of forensic evidence, Psycho-social support-PSS)

	Form of Gender Based cases & other cases	Numbers for 2023
	Form of Gender Based cases & other cases	J-M	A-J	J-S	O-D	Overall total
1	Simple defilement	70	112	86	74	342
2	Aggravated defilement	7	10	13	7	37
3	Rape	9	3	12	5	29
4	Anal sex	2	2	1	0	5
5	Domestic Violence	59	79	101	124	363
6	Child abuse/torture	1	6	7	10	24
7	Physical assault	453	792	689	613	2547
	Total	601	1004	909	833	3347

2.1.2 Sexual gender-based violence (SGBV) cases Linked to receive post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) & FP services

Table2: Sexual gender-based violence (SGBV) cases Linked to PEP, HCT

Indicator	No	Percentage
No of SGBV cases	413
No Offered HCT	413	100%
No Eligible for PEP	395
No of SGBV Linked to PEP	395	100%
No of SGBV Linked to PEP and feedback received	390	98%
No of SGBV cases that are Women Offered emergency Family planning	78

2.1.3 Linkage of GBV cases to Legal services and Forensic evidence collection

Forensic evidence collection / presentation of professional evidence in court. A total of 149 survivors were represented in court and professional forensic evidence presented

Table3: Linkage to Legal services and presented Forensic examination evidence

Sn.	Cases	No	Percentage
1	Defilement	94	63.1
2	Rape	6	4
3	Anal sex cases	2	1.3
4	Domestic violence	16	10.7
5	Child abuse	1	0.7
6	Physical assault	30	20.1
	Total	149

2.2 HIV care services

2.2.1 HIV Counseling and Testing services

From Jan-December 2023, The Organization offered Facility based HIV counseling and testing (HCT).

Age -Yrs.	No offered HCT			Total tested	No HIV positives identified	No of HIV positive Linked
Age -Yrs.	J-M’23 A-J’23 Q1 Q2	J-S’23 Q3	O-D’23 Q4	Total tested	No HIV positives identified	No of HIV positive Linked
0-5 0 11		8	8	27	0	0
6-12 21 8		12	21	62	1	1
13-17 64 56		81	122	323	0	0
18-30 69 66		90	86	311	17	17
31-40 27 14		55	71	167	11	11
41+ 20 9		36	25	90	0	0
Total 201 164		282	333	980	29	29

Offered HCT to 980 individuals, identified 29 HIV positives, 2.9 % positivity rate and linked 100% to ART, Mpumudde HC IV, which is a public facility supports manage our HIV positive clients

2.2.2 Condom distribution to HIV hotspots

Distributed 3533 pieces of condoms in Bar5 HIV hot spots in Mafubira and Mpumudde

2.2.3 Awareness creation on HIV prevention

Sensitized 4500 individuals on HIV prevention and distributed 1000 IEC materials on HIV prevention

3. PEPFAR Funded GBV Project

Title of project; End Violence to Orphans and Vulnerable children affected and infected with HIV/AIDS in Jinja.

Romic Care Foundation received funding to implement activities on GBV

3.1 Key PEPFAR Funded Activities that were Implemented and the outputs

Activity Code		Activity Description	Results/out puts	Comments
	Activity	Inception meeting with 26 district and City key stakeholders	25 stakeholders (17 female and 8male) attended the meeting.	Created community ownership of the project and introduce the project to the stakeholders: – Shared Activities, Expected outputs and method of implementation and target group and coverage
	1:

	Activity	Identifying & registering OVCs	290 OVC were identified & registered to benefit from the project activities	There was an overwhelming number of OVC who wanted and needed to be registered for the program to benefit, that were promised to be included also in the program. The beneficiaries were selected using MLG&SD guidelines and among the following categories; Children who have lost one or both parents and orphan households; Abused and neglected children; Children affected by disability;
	2:

				Children living under the worst forms of labour; Children in conflict with the law; Children in hard-to-reach areas; Children affected by HIV/AIDS and other diseases; and Children living on the streets
Activity		Organise workshops for OVC, community leaders and parents to educate/train about child rights and responsibilities of care takers	3 workshops attended 80 OVC, 10 community leaders and 70 parents, there were oriented about their rights and responsibilities on caring for OVCs (children and women)	We in the identification and registration process, we worked with District Community Development Officer, Sub- County community development officers, the Probation Officers, LC1 chairpersons, Child and family Protection committees, District Union of Disabilities and women representatives. The community through their local council one chairpersons were the whistle blowers and our work was to assess and enrol them for support following the MLG&SD guidelines
3:

Activity		Visit Local communities sensitize them about the rights of OVC	7 sensitization sessions were conducted in the communities of Buwenge Sub County and Walukuba, Masese III in Jinja City and 125 households were mobilised and 241 people were sensitized about the rights of OVC.	A total of 4 sensitization visits was conducted to 70 households about the rights of OVC and 141 people were sensitized about the rights of OVC.
4:

Activity		Provide psychosocial care and legal protection/support to young victims of GBV.	A total of 85 young victims of GBV were supported with psychosocial care and legal protection services.	-Some of young victims of GBV expected direct financial support because they face a constant challenge in finding money for food – Most of the beneficiary’s fear to go to Health Centres because of the harassment by Health workers there and sitting at the health Centre for a whole day without being attended to. – This objective was met because a total number of 45 young victims of GBV were supported with psychosocial care and legal protection services as planned.
5:


	Activity	Printing and distribution of IEC materials on the prevention of HIV and GBV.	1750 Brochures were printed and distributed 1000 Waterproof stickers were printed and distributed 100 branded T-shirts were printed and distributed	There is need to translate IEC materials to local language
	6:

	Activity	Radio talk shows on GBV, HIV	3 Radio talk shows were conducted on protection of children rights and GBV and reached about10,000listeners (community members).	This objective was met because a total of 10,000listeners (community members) on protection of children rights and GBV through Radio talk shows as planned.
	7:

	Activity	Sensitize the young people and their caretakers about GBV and HIV prevention	4 Workshops Were Organised in Mpungwe and Sawuliyako Walukuba MaseseIII,	Reached 158 beneficiaries versus the budgeted Target of 20
	8:

3.2 Awareness creation

In 2023, Participated on16 days of Activism against Violence against women/girls organized by Busoga Regional Director of public prosecutions at Jinja Railway grounds, sensitized communities on GBV, HIV prevention and link between GBV and environment

Participated also on Rubaga Youth Day sports gala, offered HIV Awareness creation, HCT and GBV screening.

3.2 Key challenges

Inadequate IEC materials on SGBV, No/lacking Safe shelters for SGBV survivors to be supported, inadequate HMIS tools and generally we lack a strong financial support for smooth running of our activities.

4.0 Medical care services _OPD and in patient services for Jan-December 2023

Romic Medical Centre offers OPD and Inpatient services to all age groups

Sn.	Indicator	No
1	Total OPD attendances	5400
2	Total In patient attendances	1080
3	No confirmed malaria cases treated	876
4	Animal bites	13
5	Road Traffic Accident (RTA)	203

5.0 Partnerships and Collaborations

The organization collaborates with the Jinja City, Jinja district, Jinja City health office, public health facilities, the Police, Jinja judiciary, Rubaga Youth Group and Busoga Regional Director of public prosecutions, Jinja justice Centre in execution of its mandate

6.0 Lessons learnt:

Awareness creation among communities increased reporting of GBV survivors

Engagement of duty bearers including police, Heads of schools, LCs and other CBOs in the space of GBV improved timely Linkage of survivors to access emergency care like PEP and emergency family planning and collection of forensic evidence.

7.0 Activity Photo gallery



A staff of ROCAF raising awareness about WASH at Gertrude Academy Primary _Buwenge	HIV testing outreach by ROCAF staff to the uniformed officers.


ROCAF staffs offering HIV Testing and GBV awareness creation and screening for GBV during the event marking the 16 days of activisim for Jinja City, at Railway grounds Jinja City	Young People, Parents and Community Leaders of Mpungwe Village, Buwenge Sub county in Workshop About HIV And GBV Prevention organised by ROCAF under PEPFAR Funding


ROCAF Director raising awareness on GBV to police officers during the event marking the 16 days of activisim for Jinja City, at Railway grounds Jinja City	Sensitising Community of Mpungwe on GBV and children rights and protection

A physically disabled single grandmother being given some financial help by Romic staff.	Staff during OVC identification and registration in mpungwe village, Buwenge.