Akomo Sam Orena
Soroti
Summary
Akomo holds a bachelor’s degree in Art social sciences of Makerere University and a diploma in Development studies and management of Nsamizi training institute mpigi Uganda with over 7 years’ progressive experience in program/project planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of health and community development projects. Pakomo was previously working as a community engagement officer for the USAID funded Local service delivery activity (LSDA-HIV/TB) project implemented by Uganda Protestant medical bureau. He has previously also worked as at Community Linkages Officer/counselor overseeing 6 health centres of abim district under ANECCA , for the PEPFAR/CDC funded HIV and TB project in the northern region He has also previously worked for TASO Sorti region project as Counselor branches coordinating implementation of directly implementing projects in HIV/AIDS/OVC and Adolescent sexual reproductive health at field level. This experience has enabled him gain expertise in implementation of health and community projects at both management and field level. Patrick is a good team player, accomplishes tasks “ensuring they are always done right”, self-motivated and is a resultsoriented person with strong analytical, conceptual and communications skills.
To work in an organization in a responsible position where there is interface with different people, be pragmatic in addressing contemporary humanitarian needs and structural issues of the most vulnerable people with the highest standards of professional performance while being tolerant and pleasant to others.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
Work History
Community Engagement officer
Uganda Protestant Medical Bureau
01.2024 - 02.2025
- The community engagement officer is responsible for ensuring that project activities are effectively implemented. He will also be involved in designing strategies, coordinating stakeholders and implementation of activities as well as contributing to organizationwide learning for community engagement. The specialist will work in collaboration with other teams’ members to strengthen the technical and institutional capacity for FBOs/CBOs/PNFPs to complement the existing efforts by GOU, Development partners, civil society and other stakeholders to attain and sustain HIV epidemic control in Uganda by 2030 and beyond.
- Key Achievements:
- Championing the implementation of the Integrated community service delivery model across 75 PNFP health facilities supported by the LSDA project in the regions of karamoja, Busoga, Bukedi and Bugisu which resulted in improved viral load suppression from 90% in Oct-December 2023 Quarter to 97% in the October- December 2025 Quarter.
- Worked alongside facility staff and supported PNFP sites to generate confirmed lists of missed appointments and lost clients using Audit tools, EMR as well as the appointment and missed appointment registers which resulted in improved Back to care performance of the project from 51% in October-December 2023 Quarter to 90.8% in the October-December 2024 Quarter.
- Provided technical support to 21 Community based organizations sub granted to implement community Activities by the LSDA project in the regions of Busoga, Bukedi and Bugisu by developing work plans and budgets for them as well as guiding them to implement a wide range of community activities that UPMB subgranted them to implement such as Index testing, General HIV testing services, KP and PP prevention services, follow up of lost clients, Home based counselling, TB contact tracing, referral of clients for services at health facilities among others.
- Spearheaded capacity building of healthcare workers in community related interventions through training, mentorships, and supportive supervision in areas of Differentiated service delivery models (DSDM), client linkage and retention, HIV case finding, TB Case identification among others.
- Supported implementation of the school health strategy through supporting the training of schoolteachers, matrons and nurses to implement the school health strategy in 5 piloted schools for the program and supported them to rollout the program in their schools.
- Conducted mentorship of facility teams and community health workers(CHWs) on the implementation of the patient centered matrix(PCM) which resulted in PCM interviews being conducted for over 200 non-suppressed clients across the LSDA supported health facilities to find out challenges affecting their suppression and solutions generated to address suppression bottlenecks.
Community Linkages officer/Counselor
ANECCA LPHS project
10.2022 - 06.2023
- Support all health facilities to routinely update contact details of all clients active in care to facilitate follow up efforts, Organize, coordinate and supervise communitybased expert clients (CLFs) to support physical tracing of lost clients, Support health facilities to compile, verify and analyse follow up reports, and to use this information to improve retention of clients in care, Functionalize linkages between health facilities and the existing community support and care structures (including PHA networks, CBOs, legal structures etc.) to complement facilitybased care, Support health facilities to implement appropriate differentiated care models for specific categories of PLHIV on ART and Functionalization of CBO engagements to support delivery of community-based HIV/AIDS services.
- Key Achievements:
- Set up community structures with 33 VHTs and community leaders trained in abim and 24 in kotido districts to support in referral of individuals and linkages in communities for services in the facilities such Nutrition services, ANC services, medical examination and treatment for GBV, HIV testing among others which resulted into 1959 pregnant mothers referred for 1st ANC services and 209 people referred for nutrition services in various health facilities in abim,kotido and moroto districts from January 2022 to April 2024.
- Provided technical support to 3 Community based organizations; Alliance forum for Development (AFOD) based in Abim, kotido share an opportunity uganda by developing work plans and budgets for them as well as guiding them to implement a wide range of community activities that PEPFAR sub-granted them to implement such as APN,Index testing, Testing men 25years above, follow up of lost clients, Home based counselling, TB contact tracing, referral of clients for services at health facilities among others.
- Strengthened referral pathways through conducting 19 referral Reflection meetings in all sub counties inAbim,kotido and developed referral directories and provided copies to all supported Health facilities, Sub County headquarters and all other service points which improved bi-directional Community-Facility linkages for clients to access services outside the facility.
- Spearheaded capacity building of healthcare workers in community related interventions through trainings, mentorships and supportive supervisions in areas of Differentiated service delivery models (DSDM), client linkage and retention among others. In all supported health facilities in abim and kotido districts which resulted into the formation of 74 CCLAD groups with 320 clients& 16 CDDPs with 316 clients hence reducing waiting time for clients at the health facilities.
- Formed follow up teams of 5 expert clients per facility in all 32 health facilities I support that have supported follow up of all lost clients from HIV/TB care which improved Client retention in care from 75% in December 2017 to 94% by end of June 2023 in abim,kotido and moroto district.
- Ensured all HIV/AIDs clients files in care have client locator forms showing their places of residence with Maps showing their homes which has resulted into easy tracing of lost clients hence improving retention from 75% in December 2017 to 94% by end of June 2023
- Designed, monitored and reported on key activities related to HIV/AIDS prevention scale up in the supported districts like weekly surge activities,APN,XP/PP Hotspot tracking,GBV monitoring and SNS
- Provided technical support in addressing adherence challenges in supported health facilities like switch meeting, peer group meetings.
- Supported quality Assurance of HIV/AIDS prevention services through developing CQI projects in facilities of support.
- Provided KP/PP technical assistance and training facilitation in HIV prevention services in supported sites such as Stepping stones, APN, SNS models especially for ANECCA projects Sub granted KP CSOs in the region and facility based CMEs.
- Ensured service provision for key population categories focusing on HTS and ART enrollment.
- Organized, coordinated and reported on the day and moon light HTS and treatment outreaches for the facility for KP marked hot spots.
- Mentored and trained staff at health facilities in KP tracking, retention in care and referral to service provision.
- Supported KP Peer Leaders at site and community level to make the necessary referrals for services and follow up for enrolment.
Stand in counselor
TASO soroti regional project
06.2020 - 08.2022
- Support facility teams to line list and map out the eligible provided to the clients during the visit. clients for APN and ICT; (newly identified HIV clients on
- Support site teams to track clients’ appointment and ART and clients with non-suppressed viral load. Ensure treatment continuity (MMD, client attachment with site teams constitutes, a blend of CHWs, and health evidence on file & contacting, preferred DSDM, client workers with both trained and lay HIV testers literacy.
- Facilitate and oversee HIV Case finding using more Support site teams to do meaningful client attachments to yielding modalities like (OPD, IPD, YCC Screening, peers for community contacting, follow up and return to care for both ART and PMTCT clinics.
- The Meaningful Linkages attachment to CHWs should be evidenced by the audit tool APN/ICT, SNS, HIV self-testing /Caregivers testing) and Track, mobilize and supervise all community activities as tools, contact form and client files planned by site teams.
- Coordinate with site teams to ensure interruption of fidelity treatment is minimal, track clients to be initiated on 3rdline ART, VIA positive clients not linked to treatment
- TB Preventive Therapy and TB Case Finding clients with suspected cancer referred for further management as well as support integrated referral system Support site team to generate lists of clients completing 3 months on ART,HIV/TB coinfected able to facilitate,track and document bi/directional treatment and PMTCT 3 months post –natal attachment referrals them to the respective CHWs for TPT initiation.
- Support site team to ensure presumptive patients get Support site team to lists PBCs (inclusive of those for groups.
- Initial contact, contact at 2 months, 5 months and 6 Support site teams to conduct homebased PSS and care months) with theircontacts; map and arrange home visits caregivers support to on teatement literacy among care through the existing community structures like LC1, caregivers, adolescents and PLHIV, VHTs after gaining consent from targeted index cases for PLWHIV
- Support institutionalize the implementation of patient with TB contact tracing. And centered matrix (PCM) at facility levels: through generating monthly line lists of all nonsuppressed clients, .
Education
Bachelor of Art - social sciences
Makerere University
Kampala, Uganda01.2018
Diploma - development studies
Nsamizi training institute mpigi
Mpigi, Uganda01.2010
Advanced Level Certificate - undefined
mbale progressive school
Mbale, Uganda01.2007
Ordinary Level Certificate - undefined
royal college bunga
Bunga, Uganda01.2000
Skills
Interpersonal skills, Communication and listening skills, multi-tasking skills
undefinedReferences
- Dr, mikago peter, Regional team lead., +256702081145, UPMB (Uganda protestant medical bureau)
- Dr, opito ronald, Center program manager, +256773018970, TASO soroti regional project
- Kabazingusi, agnes, Project director, +256, Compassion international,kyenjojo cdc
Timeline
Community Engagement officer
Uganda Protestant Medical Bureau
01.2024 - 02.2025
Community Linkages officer/Counselor
ANECCA LPHS project
10.2022 - 06.2023
Stand in counselor
TASO soroti regional project
06.2020 - 08.2022
Bachelor of Art - social sciences
Makerere University
Diploma - development studies
Nsamizi training institute mpigi
Advanced Level Certificate - undefined
mbale progressive school
Ordinary Level Certificate - undefined
royal college bunga