Person in image is illustrative; Identities of all research participants are protected and de-identified
Grace
Uganda, 35 years old
“When flooding happened, most of the safe water sources were damaged. We resorted to using unsafe water from the flooded river.”
“
I’m Grace, 35 years, and I work as a backpack nurse for the Rwenzori Centre for Research and Advocacy in Uganda.
Due to heavy rains that burst the rivers, many people were displaced and I could not deliver my services because I could not access some communities.
When flooding happened, most of the safe water sources were damaged. We resorted to using unsafe water from the flooded river.
I myself got sick with diarrhea and my children.
When I recovered, I had to use long routes to get to my clients [because the bridges were damaged]. So services like family planning were affected. Adolescent girls and women ended up getting unplanned pregnancies in these communities and also getting STDs and STIs because they could not access condoms.
I also saw high cases of HIV patients not adhering to their medications because they could not access their drugs and counseling services in time.
”
