Projects
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- HIV/AIDS programming aims at reducing rates of HIV/AIDS prevalence, new infections and effects of opportunistic infections among the victims. The organization provides training in positive living, counseling, food, household utensils and clothing to HIV/AIDS affected and infected individuals to improve their living standards.
House Construction & Sanitation
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- Surveys carried out in Lyantonde District indicate that over 85% of orphans and other vulnerable groups lack good shelter because of high poverty levels. It was also found out that the safe disposal of human waste is not practiced and majority of the population do not have latrines. In February 2010, the organization began construction of houses and pit latrines for vulnerable and HIV/AIDS affected households in Lyantonde district to increase the beneficiaries sanitation and standards of living.
Health Outreach Program
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- Lyantonde district has only one hospital which is poorly equipped with personnel and equipment and patients move long distances to access treatment. This has led to increase in diseases prevalence and mortality to preventable diseases. Having realized this, ICOD incorporated disease control and treatment in its programming. As a result, over 3000 people have received free treatment during our annual health outreach
programs.
Safe Water Extension
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- Lyantonde and part of Masaka district lies in the Ankole-Masaka cattle collidor; a semi-arid zone severely affected by long drought intervals and famine. Safe water is not accessed by over 90% of the rural population. The average walking distance to the nearest water sources in Lyantonde; (safe or unsafe) is 4 kilometers and the burden of collecting water is mostly on children, women and he elderly. ICOD has intervened through safe water extension to the rural poor to increase their access to safe water.
Food Security
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- Due to the effects of drought, poverty and ill health, over 80% of vulnerable households go without food or have one meal per day. Through agriculture support and training, over 100 vulnerable households, 10 farmers' groups and one primary school have received free planting seeds, training and food aid during famine. This has resulted to improved agricultural production and increased food availability among beneficiaries' households.
Information Technology
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- The organization recently launched Lyantonde Internet Center. This solar powered facility will help the organization implement ICT projects. Under this project, 5 community groups are taking part in an information sharing program. Farmers are trained in using computers and Internet. After training, trained farmers (Information Agents) go back to their respective communities and engage communities in discussions about finding lasting solutions for communities most pressing problems. Information Agents then come the center and have access to online resources , they repackage the information in local languages and post the information in their communities where all members have access to it. Information about markets, sustainable agriculture, weather forecasts, HIV/AIDS updates and health related information are most frequently requested by communities in Lyantonde. The Center is also open 7 days a week to the public, providing Internet access.