PROTEIN UP CAMPAIGN (#PUC)
“If you cannot feed a thousand, feed one person” – Mother Teresa
SoHope and partners donating 50 trays of eggs and 25kg to BUtabika Hospital on 01 May 2020

Target: UGX1,000,000 (equivalent to $300)

Some patients at the hospital have nutritional needs that need additional support to what the institution provides. Especially the patients with additional illnesses (sick wards) and younger patients (children’s ward) in the case of Butabika Hospital need our help.
A tray of eggs normally cost between UGX9,000-UGX10, 000. We are looking for caring and loving individuals and groups to help us meet this challenge.
The food we eat plays a crucial role in our mental health. The nutrients impact the structure and functioning of our brains, play a major part in our emotional regulation and cognitive functioning. Simply put, your mood is directly linked to what you eat. Your food equals your mental functioning.[1]

Protein Up is a nutrition campaign by Strides of Hope Foundation (SoHope) in conjunction with St. Luke Chapel Butabika AIMED AT SUPPLEMENTING (BOOSTING) THE PROTEIN LEVELS OF PERSONS WITH MENTAL DISORDERS IN BUTABIKA HOSPITAL through a weekly provision of eggs and other fruits for 3 MONTHS. The beneficiaries include the CHILDREN’S WARD, SICK WARDS (female and male) in Butabika Hospital.

The pandemic is having devastating effects on the mental and general wellbeing of not only the patients in institutions like prisons and hospitals but also the general population in their homes. Accordingly, the numbers of persons experiencing mental health challenges have spiked due to factors related to the pandemic and its preventive measures.[2] Of course some other factors play a pivotal role in the increasing mental health challenges experienced. However, it is to be noted that mental related challenges have increased due to the pandemic: lots of people have to suffer from loss of jobs, spending without earning, and restrictions from visitations or closure in the cases of institutions among other things. These factors have deeply touched everybody. And it also greatly affects those kept in institutions mentioned above.

On 12 May 2020, SoHope and partners donated three (3) boxes of biscuits, one (1) box of sanitary towels and toothbrushes and toothpaste to the patients at Butabika Hopsital.
WHY PROTEIN UP CAMPAIGN
Foods rich in proteins contain amino acids. These amino acids are central in producing key neurotransmitters in preventing and treating depression, anxiety and other mental health problems. Neurotransmitters are substances that enhance nerve communication. Protein is an essential nutrient for all processes in the body including the optimal functioning of our brain.[3]
Proteins are body building foods made up of amino acids that can be found in meat, milk and other dietary meals, eggs. They are responsible for the production of hormones such as dopamine and tyrosine and serotonin responsible for our mood and sleep. Proteins help boost our immune system.
Lack of proteins affects our mood as a result of inadequate amino acids and thus no neurotransmitter leading to depression or overly being aggressive, weakness and fatigue, more hungry, slowed healing, poor immune system.[4]
Daily supplements is essential in reducing symptoms. Amino acids are concerted to neurotransmitters which in turn reduce depression and other mental disorders. Low levels of neurotransmitters can in part result into future consequences, triggering risky, impulsive and aggressive behaviors which may culminate in suicide, the ultimate act of inwardly directed impulsive aggression.[5]
Proper nutrition improves alertness and arousal, mood elevation, they are antidepressant in nature like omega 3.

BENEFICIARIES

• The children ward, Butabika Hospital
• The female and male sick wards, Butabika Hospital
• The inmates with mental disorders in Upper prison

Chidren at the Children Ward, Butabika Hospital enjoying cake in one of the Christmas Outreach event with them.

CURRENT SITUATION
Currently, SoHope and St. Luke Chapel are offering at least some eggs for the children’s ward and the sick ward and desire to increase the supply to the inmates.

WHAT WE HAVE DONE
During this pandemic lockdown period, SoHope has been able to reach out to the persons with mental disorders in Butabika Hospital.

• On the International Labor Day (May 01st), through our friend and partners, we managed to donate 50 trays of eggs and 25kg of sugar to the patients in Butabika.
• On May 12th, we donated 3 boxes of biscuits, a box of sanitary towels (for the female sick ward), a box of toothbrushes and a box of toothpaste to the sick wards (male and female) and the children’s ward.
• On June 16 that is the Day of the African Child, we celebrated the day with the children at the ward through donating 2 trays of eggs, 3 clusters of bananas, 3 pineapples, and a cake. We have celebrated this day with the children for the past 4 years as our annual educational campaign.
• We have held the FruityEaster, a nutrition campaign that aims at supplementing patients’ nutrition through fruits in the hospital and prison. It is an annual event majorly at the Butabika but the prison is on too.
• The Dec Outreach aiming at celebrating Christmas with the sick wards, children ward and the inmates. It’s an annual event
• We have offered eggs, bread, bananas, laundry and liquid soap to the inmates with mental illness monthly.

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SITUATION
About 11.5 million people in Uganda have mental disorders or a form of it. Of these, 15% need institutionalization. With the current pandemic, a lot more people are likely to suffer from mental breakdown and will need help. It is predicted that it is likely to have a rise in cases such as depression, stress, anxiety. With such rise, there is also a rise in suicide. Most of the people in Uganda suffer from depression, followed by anxiety, bipolar disorder, and many other.
Dr. Juliet Nakku, the deputy Director of Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital recently in a televised interview with NTV revealed that the numbers of cases of depression and stress have spiked during this lockdown.[6] It basically reveals the intense situation most of the people are undergoing and that some can no longer keep up thus the mental breakdown. However, not all hope is lost. There is hope for us all. You and I are the hope. We can work together, take small steps towards holding each other’s hand and we shall win. Simple gestures of kindness and love mean a world of a difference in another person’s life. Together we can do great things. We start now! We are an all inclusive youth led organization mandated to empower persons with mental disorders in hopsitals, prisons and communities.
ABOUT SOHOPE
SoHope (Strides of Hope Foundation) is an inclusive youth led nonprofit organization established on the foundational principals of unconditional love, hope and inclusion for all persons with mental disorders. SoHope was founded in 2015 and registered in 2018 with a mandate to promote mental health through innovative psychological and socioeconomic empowerment of person with mental health challenges in hospitals, prisons and communities.

We work closely with hospitals, prisons and other community structures such as schools, places of worship among many others. We believe that holistically empowering clients with life skills (hard and soft) will equip them to thrive sustainably in their communities leading to self-actualization and socio-economic development. Achieving this will help the client’s inclusion in the society because they have become part of the change makers and indispensable contributors to society. They have become part of the contributors to the development of the society. They have value to offer the society. SoHope and St. Luke Chapel Butabika are working together to try suppliment the nutrition of the children and patients with additioanl illnesses (Male and female sick wards). Here, we are working on a vegetable garden for the children.

Strategic Partners
In the past we have worked with different individuals and organizations to achieve the goal of offering glorious hope to persons with mental disorders and other persons in different ways. Partners like Department of Mental Health, Ministry of Health Uganda, Butabika Hospital, Uganda Prison Services, Uganda Counseling Association, the Mayor’s Office, Nakawa Division, St. Luke Chapel Butabika, On Purpose (New York City, USA), Butabika School of Psychiatry, God’s Glory Mutungo, The Story People, Free Mind Hive, You Belong Uganda, Elizabeth Bagaya Foundation, Bishop Cipriano Kihangire SSS, Tropical Heat (U) LTD. Others include Purpose Africa, Rotary Club of Bugolobi, MIA (The Netherlands), Second Chance Support (Uganda and The Netherlands), The City Church (Luzira), Broken Vessel, Austins Foundation Uganda, Emma Tibs Salon and The Miss Uganda Foundation
Many individuals have been part of this cause too.

“Verily I say unto you, in as much has you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me.”-St. Matthew (Matthew 25:40 KJV)

References: [1] Eva Selhub MD (2020) Nutritional Psychiatry: Your brain on food www.health.harvard.edu/blog/nutritional-psychiatry-your-brain-on-food-201511168626 [2] Mental Health and COVID-19 www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/health-emergencies/coronavirus-covid-19/technical-guidance/mental -health-and-covid-19 [3] Mental Health Community www.mhc.org/nutrition.protein-and-mental-health/ [4] www.webmd.com/diet/ss/slideshow-not-enough-proteins-signs [5] T.S Sathyyanarayana Rao et al. 2019: understanding nutrition depression and mental illnesses. Indian J Psychiatry.2008 Apr-Jun; 50(2):77-82 doi: 10.4103/0019-5545.42391 PMCID: PMC2738337) [6] Butabika Hospital reports a rise in stress cases www.ntv.co.ug/news/national/Butabika-hospital-reports-a-rise-in-stress-cases/4522324-5574518-yh3agiz/index.html