February 2010: Latest newsletter available to download: Click here for newsletter.

October 2009: Latest newsletter available to download: Click here for newsletter.

September 2009: Unicef information for June 09 was as follows. 282 children had been exposed to HIV mothers. Only 14 babies were found to be HIV positive. This translates into a transmission rate of 5%. This is very good bearing in mind the risk of transmission being over 35% if no treatment is offered.

March 2009: First results from pilot project. 15 children given treatment tested at 6 weeks - none is HIV positive; total number of women tested is 3000. 2000 local people trained to spread information about ABC and encourage women to be tested. ABC invited to speak at an HIV/AIDS session at the Birmingham RI Convention 21-24 June 2009; RCs of Middlesbrough and Grantham to man a publicity stall at the convention.

January 2009: Pilot begins in Kayunga, Uganda.

December 3rd 2008: 'Official Opening Ceremony' in Kampala, Uganda.

July 2008: A big thank you letter received from the Rotary Club of Kololo-Kampala:

This is to express on behalf our the Rotary Club of Kololo-Kampala our most sincere gratitude to you, your Board and Members of your club, especially Rtn Mohammed Kibirige who spearheaded this project, TRF(The Rotary Foundation), especially Mary Howard, who has so well guided us through the fund-acquisition process, for the opportunity granted to our club to partner with yours in service of these poor souls of our community who have had a bleak future and the shadow of death hanging over their heads.

By coincidence the in-coming RI President's dream of forging for a heathy child as a basis for ensuring a sustainable future for humanity, could not have found a better partnership in fulfilling his dream in this part of the world than project (Aids Birthright for Children). In this project if sustained and extended to other parts of the world, we can see a new beginning for a healthier and better world population by the turn of the next two decades.

I am personally happy very grateful to you for having made me a team-mate on this great dream-team and even after my year as President, i promise to continue supporting the endeavours your club, your district, TRF and our club which that have for the first time are going to empower HIV-positive mothers to bring forth healthy children.

Thank you very much and let us work harder to get more and more such projects.

Simon S.K. Sagala-Mulindwa President, Rotary Club of Kololo-Kampala

June 2008: Matching grant approved by Rotary International - We have lift-off!

June 2008: AIDSBirthrightForChildren.org Website released to coincide with matching grant approval.

November 2007: Foundation Grant application is registered through the Middlesbrough club.

May 2007: Make contacts in Uganda and monitor the pilot event. Dr Kibirige and two lay Rotarians visit Kayunga and Kampala; saw trial session in action; contacted RCs in Kayunga and Kampala; met government officials and councillors to ensure good will and support; met UNICEF and other NGOs to establish contact.

January 2007: Pilot begins in Kayunga, Uganda.

2006: Talk to Rotary Clubs in UK and France to spread the knowledge and raise money - Kettering Huxloe; Stokesley commit in 2007. Fund raising in Middlesbrough (garden party) Grantham (ONO band and club's bottle collection) Ruffec (Nagerathon).

2006: Have a core of Rotary Clubs to begin the programme - RC's of Middlesbrough (1030); Ruffec (1690) and Grantham (1070) commit to support. Middlesbrough is the financial centre - setting up grant aid from Foundation at Rotary International.

2006: Collect valid data. Rotary International will need statistics to present to the world membership so that ABC can follow on from the successful Polio-Plus when it ends. The experience, contacts and prestige of Polio-Plus will ensure that ABC will have a secure future and an effective organisation to back up the medical contributions from RI members.

2005: Select a pilot area - Uganda because of Dr Kibirige's knowledge of the country, his proven track record and his well trained team is there. It is also a country where HIV/AIDS already has government schemes in place and where there is backing from UNICEF and other NGOs. Rotary in Uganda is also supportive.

2005: Look at costs - $360 per year for palliative treatment for a family of six, ongoing for life; $10 for counselling and treatment for mother and child, one-off. Prevention is not only better that cure, it is also cheaper.

2005: Take the positives forward - the outreach method is proven to bring medicines to difficult areas - UNESCO and World AIDS conference in Bangkok 2004 endorsed the methods as a template for medical work.

2005: Look at the future - prevention is better that cure - it is better to ensure that young people can grow up healthy.

2005: Review the past - palliative programme is successful in prolonging useful life, but does not stop children being born with HIV/AIDS.