Kampala — THIRTY-Year-old Sarah Lokiru, did not know why her children were always suffering from malaria and stomach ache. It was until she attended healthy living sessions by the Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) that she understood the causes of the constant illnesses.

"I never used to boil drinking water and use a pit-latrine," she said.

Lokiru is one of the people living in Karamoja, where using a pit-latrine is a taboo. People there believe that when an expectant woman visits a latrine, the baby will die.

However, when URCS conducted healthy living awareness in the region, they dropped the myth.

Since 2008, URCS interventions are being implemented in Moroto and Kotido districts.

The programme officer, Dr Peter Eriaku, said sets of digging kits were distributed to 3,261 households.

Although Karamoja is hardly accessible, the project is progressing well.

"Four boreholes have been replaced with 94 new pipes to increase access to water," said Eriaku.

Under its health and care Programme, URCS is implementing key family practices, code-named 'Accelerated Child Survival Development' programme.

Eriaku said this has been successful with help from trained community health workers, who sensitise the communities about the importance of routine immunisation, using mosquito nets, breastfeeding for mothers, deworming children, antenatal care and the referral system.

The programme is also using volunteers through music, dance and drama to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS.