GULU UNIVERSITY MEDICAL JOURNAL

Gulu University Medical Journal (GUMJ) 2009/2010 Vol 5.
Level of Availability of HIV/AIDS Management
Services as Rated by the Respondents
The level of availability of HIV/AIDS management
services as rated by the respondents, is shown in Figure
2. It can be seen that most of the services scored highly
except for food rations and financial support. In other
words, whereas most of the services were adequately
rendered, the clients felt that there would have been
need for them to be supplied with food and/or given
financial support. The highest rated (above 90%) were
ARVs supply and septrin-prophylaxis. These findings
agree with the IOM (2006) that there is poor supply of
food and financial support to HIV positive patients.
Figure 2: Availability of HIV/AIDS Management
Services
Source: Primary Data Source: Primary Data
This may be because the provision of food has not
been an integral part in the health care package of
HIV/AIDS clients as much as it is appreciated that
such patients need good nutrition care. A number of
organizations, TASO inclusive, have ventured along
this line but on a limited scale. According to the UAC
(2008) treatment of opportunistic infections is a core
focus of the GoU in combating HIV/AIDS. Therefore
availability of the medicines is considered paramount
and as such the 94.3% and 97.1% for the ARVs supply
and septrin-prophylaxis are commendable.
Level of Satisfaction about HIV/AIDS Management
Services
As illustrated in Figure 3, the satisfaction of HIV/AIDS
Management Services as rated by the respondents there
was at an average level of 70% except for food ration
and financial support. Of course the supply of food to
the patients may be logistical, but definitely not giving
the money.
Figure 3: Level of Satisfaction about HIV/AIDS
Management Services
Gulu University Medical Students’ Association (GUMSA) Passion for life 32