Heart disease is poorly understood in many African societies. Many persons living with heart disease are stigmatised because of misperceptions and myths about heart disease. These often lead to mockery, abandonment, and violence. In many traditional communities, people believe that a heart cannot be touched since it’s the engine of the body and once one has it, it cannot be cured. This has discouraged affected people from seeking medical attention.
Target Communities
For now, we will focus our energies on the rural areas of Hoima and Wakiso Districts. Our initial activities include awareness raising events to provide community education, support, and information about health resources for children and young adults who have heart disease living in rural Uganda.
To serve as a linkage organisation that provides awareness raising, community education and support, and information about health resources for children and young adults who have heart disease living in rural Uganda.
To see children and young adults in rural Uganda who have heart disease empowered with knowledge about their disease and how to access health resources to achieve their best possible health.
The core values of FAAYO are:
Humility, Compassion for Others, Integrity and Accountability.
To empower children and young adults living in rural Uganda who have congenital and acquired heart diseases (rheumatic heart disease) with the basic health knowledge and skills to live a healthy and productive life.
To create awareness about heart disease among affected children, young adults, their families, caretakers, and the community at large.
To ensure that families of children and young adults who have heart disease are empowered with basic and accurate health information and to encourage them to adhere to prescribed treatments.
To empower young adults, especially adolescents, with reproductive health education and basic information to improve health outcomes for those suffering from heart disease.
“Listen To Your Heart”