Two decades of fighting HIV

Livingstone Musoke (Second Left) chats with a group of women during a routine counselling session on Kalangala Island. PHOTOS BY HENRY LUBULWA.

What you need to know:

For 26 years, Livingstone Musoke has been at the forefront of battling HIV to Kalangala Island, one of the worst hit areas in Uganda, writes Henry Lubulwa

In the late 1980s, Livingstone Musoke was posted on Kalangala Island as the Tuberculosis Control Programme focal person.
This was a new journey that introduced him to the realities of poverty. However, his desire was to deliver a service that was needed by both the rich and the poor.
In 1991 he was posted to Kalangala Health Centre IV, beginning a journey that would turn him into one of the island’s key persons in matters related to HIV.


“I started as a nursing officer. This was about 16 years after I had joined as the district Tuberculosis Control Programme focal person in the 80s,” he narrates, taking me through an experience that has kept him in constant contact with HIV patients as well as being at the forefront of cutting back on new infections on an island that has one of the highest prevalence rates in Uganda.


“For the last 26 years, I have been working here [Kalangala Health Centre IV]. I think the community around here appreciates my energy, especially in regard to fighting HIV,” he says.
Among his focus, he says, include reminding HIV patients to continuously have hope as well encouraging them to take medicine and seek assistance every time they have challenges.


Born in 1955, Musoke has spent all his adult life working as a health services provider on Ssese Islands.
At the start of his career, he was ushered into a profession that was already overwhelmed by the increasing patient numbers coupled with poverty, a poor transport infrastructure and a host of other challenges.
“The mode of treatment then was through outreach programmes. HIV was increasing and indeed it was a problem that gave us challenges,” he says, narrating why he took up the desire to fight HIV.
“Many landing sites had become a hub for HIV. I took up the challenge and I have since been a reference point for a number of people coming from as far as Rakai and Gomba districts,” he says.
In 2007, Musoke was co-opted in the Kalangala Home Based Vaccination, Counselling and Treatment programme to help distribute drugs.


He has since been moving door-to-door ensuring that HIV patients receive treatment, test and get immediate and reliable treatment as well as counselling.
However, there have been a lot of challenges including shortage of medical personnel, which sometimes means he has to single handedly serve HIV patients on about 84 Islands.
“The district prevalence for HIV is high but with very few health personnel which presents us with a bigger challenge than we already have,” he says.
Additionally, Musoke says, many public health workers deployed in Kalangala have often abandoned the island, which makes continuous progress a challenge. However, this has not deterred him from making his contribution.

Larger story
Musoke’s story is part of the larger Kalangala Health team story that faces immense challenges, especially in regard to health services delivery.
“I have heard of boats capsizing. It gets me wondering and thinking hard about a number of things,” he says.
However, through his work, he has been able to help more than 15,000 patients and he was recently appreciated by Kalangala District Health Department which, through Hillary Bitakaramire, the district health officer, gave him a pickup truck to ease movement especially in remote areas.
“I am inspired when I look at how I have been able to help rid people of hopelessness. There is so much going on,” he says as he wipes away beads of sweat from his face.
Fred Kateregga is Musoke’s colleague and he tells the story of a dedicated man who is loved by the people he serves.
“He has treated many people and has helped many families to rebuild, transform and accept living with HIV. They love him and he has become part of their lives,” he says.

Background
Musoke was born in Kasanje Sub-county in the current Wakiso District. He is married with seven children from two wives.
According to Bitakaramire, who is his immediate boss, the success of the HIV programme on the Island district is a result of Musoke’s dedication and the commitment with which he helps HIV patients.
Many patients, he says, confide in Musoke and it gets difficult every time he is off duty or out of reach.