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.