GULU UNIVERSITY MEDICAL JOURNAL

Gulu University Medical Journal (GUMJ) 2009/2010 Vol 5.
It can, however, be understood that patients would
wish to be supported financially because they may in
the cause of the disease have lost their jobs or income
generating abilities or opportunities. It, therefore,
becomes necessary to provide to such clients guidance
for self-reliance activities since it may never be possible
to financially support them considering that it is
already financially straining to the national budget to
even provide the ARVs.
The Challenges of Management of HIV /AIDS of
Resettled IDPs
Figure 4 indicate that inadequate funding, difficulties
in locating the new homes of resettled clients, high
stigma, long distances from the current homes to the
ART centre and bad roads are the major challenges
in the HIV/AIDS management of the resettled IDPs.
These challenges were expected bearing in mind that
the IDPs initially came from far and wide as they ran
away from the atrocities of the LRA. Now that they
have resettled, a number of them are staying far from
the health facilities and even some in areas that are not
easily accessible by motor vehicles.
Figure 4: HIV/AIDS Management Challenges
Source: Primary Data
Conclusion
It is clear that the HIV/AIDS management has not
been affected much by the resettlement programme.
Of course, there have been a number of challenges
such as the need for financial support and more food
rations for the patients. The fact that food continues
to be a problem among the HIV positive is an issue
that demands attention as this increases the level of
suffering among them. The findings that high stigma
and long distance to medical facilities still pose a
high challenge to the HIV/AIDS management of the
resettled IDPs remain the main areas of concern and
it is recommended that the Government addresses
them.
Gulu University Medical Students’ Association (GUMSA) Passion for life 33