“I’m a Danish nurse and community health visitor. I went to Uganda in 1997 with my husband and two children, 4 and 6 years old, due to my husband’s work. It was a time when HIV was a pandemic and medicine was not yet available in African countries. I experienced close friends die from this disease before they could get treatment, this was especially so for poor people.
I joined an International NGO as an HIV/AIDS advisor and in 2006 I met Dr. Sam Guma in a local NGO (Reach Out Mbuya), giving treatment and care for HIV positive people and in 2007 he asked if I would join him and 3 other ex-Reach Out Health Workers to start an HIV/AIDS home based care in the outskirts of Kampala. I was very honored and delighted and accepted immediately. Kawempe Home Care began its journey with no money but lots of love and strength from the volunteers. I manage to raise some money through friends and the sale of paper beads. We developed strategic plans and processes to guide the organisation.
I returned to Denmark and little did we know that the organisation would become a highly respected and recognized organisation in Uganda. It has been one of the most rewarding things I have ever done in my life. Working with so many incredible people, that despite all the challenges many of them faced they always found the strength to give hope and love to clients who had even bigger challenges.
I continued fundraising by selling the paper beads and making presentations about KHC. In 2010 I set up a small Danish support NGO– Culture without Borders and have over the years been able to raise money to support KHC.”
Anni Fjord is an amazing person and greatly admired for her selfless contribution to the most disadvantaged people in many countries. In 2019 she was awarded the Florence Nightingale Medal which is the highest international distinction a nurse can receive. It honours exceptional courage and devotion to the victims of armed conflict or natural disaster.
We are honored that Anni is part of the KHC family.