Uganda National Farmers Federation partners with Zebra Foundation.

Entering into a partnership with Uganda National Farmers Federation (UNFFE), the Zebra Foundation, Inc. has formed a non-governmental organization (NGO) in Uganda known as Zebra Foundation Uganda. The purpose is to manufacture a woman's barrier medical device (termed "Zebras") for the protection and prevention of STDs and HIV/AIDS. It will be available in Uganda, and for regional sales and distribution throughout the East African Community. Zebra Foundation Uganda will transfer the technology and provide the training for UNFFE, assisting establishment and management of a Ugandan manufacturing and distribution facility for Zebras.

UNFFE has a membership of 71 organizations with over 200,000 individual members. Of these 40% are women. All executive committees from parish to national level have 30% women participation.

UNFFE has been in partnership with the Uganda AIDS Control Project carrying out various activities to combat HIV/AIDS in the farming sector. As a result of UNFFE performance the Global Fund provided grant funding to consolidate initiatives to address intervention identified by UNFFE. The UNFFE is a member of the East African Farmers Federation, the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth and the International Federation of Agricultural Producers.

African women are at greater risk, becoming infected at an earlier age than men. Today there are on average 13 infected women for every 10 infected men in sub-Saharan Africa with the difference more pronounced among 15 to 24 year olds. Women represent more than 80% of the labor force for producing food crops. AIDS is intensifying chronic food shortages in many countries reducing countriesí agricultural workforce. A healthy agricultural sector is essential for the well-being and self-sufficiency of developing countries. It accounts for 24% of Africaís gross domestic product, 40% of its foreign exchange earnings and 70% of its employment. But the epidemic is attacking the agricultural base of many countries, especially those most affected; it is estimated that AIDS will have claimed the lives of one-fifth or more of agricultural workers by 2020.

Increasingly the face of AIDS is young and female. In every region of the globe the number of women infected with the deadly virus has risen during the past two years. Women make up nearly half of the 37.2 million adults living with HIV and in sub-Saharan Africa the proportion rises to almost 60 percent; three-quarters of all 15-24 year olds living with HIV are female.

Chebet Maikut, President, Uganda National Farmers Federation (UNFFE);
Kathleen Martin, President, Zebra Foundation;
Irene Chebet, Senior Public Health Nursing Officer, Kapchorwa District.

Wil Stevens, Jr. Zebra Foundation Advisor;
Irene Chebet, Senior Public Health Nursing Officer, Kapchorwa District; Chebet Maikut, President, Uganda National Farmers Federation (UNFFE)