Tagged as: SRHR

RHU – DFPA partnership improves the working environment in Ugandan companies

Ugandan companies are benefiting from a partnership with Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU) aimed at improving their working environment.

According to Jubilee Golden Zacharia, RHU in charge Hoima branch the four-year project is implemented by the RHU in conjunction with the Danish Family Planning Association (DFPA), to integrate sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and gender equality in the world of work.

In Hoima, Bapeneco, Bugambe Tea factory, Bwendero brick factory, Kitara Civil Society Organisations Network (KCSON), Hoima Catholic diocese, Bunyoro Albertine Network for Environmental Conservation, and Hoima district local government.

Geoffrey Oguttu, the Project Officer at RHU headquarters says more companies in Kampala metropolitan like Mairye estates, Wagagai flowers, Safe boda, Dun flowers, and Kasaku tea cooperation have also been among the beneficiaries.

During the stakeholder’s dinner in Hoima representatives of the companies explained what they have benefited from the RHU – DFPA funded project since 2018.

Ronald Byaruhanga, a personnel officer with Bugambe tea estates says several work policies were awakened through the RHU – DFPA project.

“policies that were shelved like the Operation, Safety and Health, Prevention of sexual harassment, Prevention of HIV – AIDS among others are now operational,” Byaruhanga said.

Justine Kushemererwa, an Administrative Secretary at Butema Brick factory disclosed that since the RHU – DFPA funded project started, workers know their sexual and reproductive rights and can ably report and share openly cases of infringement.

“even men come out to report cases where the women have harassed them at work, either by speech dressing and other ways of communication,” Kushemererwa said.

Priscilla Tusiime, who works with Bunyoro Albertine Network for Environmental Conservation,

learned how to raise her voice as a champion for SRHR on various media platforms, but also among workers groups in the Bunyoro region.

Dr. Peter Ibembe, RHU Director of Programs in his address to the congregants highlighted the importance of workers becoming more productive when given a conducive environment with SRHR abuses.

“encourage staffs to share experiences, to achieve the dignity of all genders at work by accessing sexual reproductive and health rights,” Dr. Ibembe said.

Ronald Kirungi Kadiri, Hoima district LCV appreciated RHU for sensitizing the masses about their sexual reproductive and health rights, and this he says, will help in reducing the increasing population which has raised the pressure on land in Hoima district.

Group Photo : Stakeholder’s dinner in Hoima comprising of representatives of the companies, RHU top management, Civil Society Organizations and Hoima district local government at Hoima Buffalo Hotel.

RHU – ACCESS project Abruptly winds up in Kikuube district

Refugees, host communities and leaders in Kikuube district have reacted diversely over the abrupt closure of the Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU), ACCESS project.

According to a cross section of vulnerable beneficiaries from the ACCESS project in Kikuube district getting free enhanced family planning services will be difficult, if no other intervention is made by RHU and its partners.

According to Dr. Peter Ibembe, RHU Director of Programs, the ACCESS project which initially was meant to run for three years, was suddenly shortened to nine months by the government of United Kingdom (UKaid).

Dr. Ibembe, says the sudden closure of the ACCESS project has affected the workplans and the effective delivery of enhanced and integrated SRHR and family planning services by RHU to the underserved and vulnerable people in Kikuube district.

18 – year – old Elizabeth Divine, a refugee from Burundi residing in Rwenyawawa village block nine (9), recently paid a visit to Rwenyawawa Health Centre III for antenatal services, with a hope of also benefiting from free family planning counseling.

Divine, hoped to see a number of sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR) experts at the health Centre III in vain. She was told the RHU – ACCESS project was no more.

“I heard about family planning and hoped that after giving birth, I would enroll on to family planning in order, not to get other unplanned for children in future, space them and do work at home. I was shocked to find the ACCESS project no longer exists and fear I will foot the unaffordable cost of enrolling onto family planning” Divine says.

At the time of the interview, she was sited next to Janet Sifa, 25 years who already benefitted from family planning counselling services courtesy of the RHU – ACCESS project.

Sifa, who resides in Musisa village block 62, had come along with her child for treatment that day. Sifa, already acquired free long-term family planning services after giving birth to her third child.

“I have benefited from the RHU – ACCESS project services of jadelle family planning. I am not getting pregnant and doing productive work and caring for my children and family” Sifa says.

Several women and their husbands still flock health Centre’s in Kyangwali refugee camp to receive free integrated and enhanced SRHR services, most of which are no longer offered. 29 – year – Jemina Katusabe, a refugee from Democratic Republic of Congo believes that with six children now, she needs to use family planning, but at Maratatu health Centre II, the services were not available at the time of her visit.

“I heard about the free family planning services offered here by RHU, but to my surprise, when I arrived at the health Centre, I was told the services are not available” Katusabe says.

The Office of the Prime Minister of Uganda (OPM), local leaders and health service providers from Kasonga and Maratatu health Centre II, Rwenyawawa health Centre III and Kyangwali health Centre IV are equally puzzled by the sudden closure of the RHU – ACCESS UKaid funded project.

Hanifa Nyangoma, OPM’s Community Services Officer in Kyangwali refugee camp says the UKaid funded RHU – ACCESS project closure will affect the vulnerable communities who are willing to give birth every year, yet they don’t want to enroll on to family planning.

Nyangoma says that through RHU’s ACCESS project, outreaches used to be conducted, communities were sensitized about the challenges of giving birth to unplanned for children. The men and women finally accepted and enrolled on to using family planning.

“it is costly to carry out these outreaches aimed at sensitizing the refugees about reproductive health, HIV, cervical cancer screening, purchase family planning commodities for these people and this will be missed after the closure of the RHU – ACCESS project in Kyangwali refugee camp” Nayangoma says.

But Glorious Nyamukiza, Kikuube Assistant District Health Officer in charge of Maternal and Child health says the sudden end to the RHU – ACCESS program will affect the capacity building program, where health services providers are equipped with skills to conduct sterilization, insertion and removal of implants and intra uterine devices at a no cost.

“if the ACCESS project was conducted for the three years or more, we would have more health care providers trained to carry out long term family planning methods and surgeries at a free cost” Nyamukiza says.

Kyangwali refugee camp has close to 130,000 refugees, most of which are women with at least four children each on average.

RHU Unveils Rutgers International Funded Young People’s SRHR Program

Young people from six districts in Uganda will soon have access to sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) services, thanks to a new Right Here, Right Now 2 (RHRN – 2) project unveiled in five districts so far.

According to Robert Ocaya, RHU – RHRN – 2 country Coordinator, the 17 billion Shillings (4,275,000 Euros) project five-year project was initiated to:

• The Right Here Right Now 2 (RHRN2) Partnership is created to allow young people in all their diversity to enjoy their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in gender-just societies.
• The project seeks to unleash the power of youth, to increase public support for young people’s SRHR, to improve policies and laws, and to strengthen civil society.
• Lobbying and advocacy is the Project’s main strategy, supported by mutual capacity strengthening in communities through the district leaderships.

So far, the program is launched in the districts of Mbale, Kapchorwa, Kween, Kasese and Fortportal. The National launch is slated for Kampala where SRHR Civil Society Organizations, Dignitaries, experts, scholars, young people and the media will be invited to witness.

Jackson Chekweko, RHU Executive Director says the program will reinforce positive norms and values among people aged 10 to 24 years to claim, enjoy and stand for SRHR and gender justice in Uganda.

“it is very dangerous for young people to live in ignorance, while impregnating fellow teens and getting children before 18 years of age. In Kasese one boy during the 2020 lockdown impregnated 10 girls because the 15-year-old boy didn’t know about SRHR” Chekweko says.

He is optimistic the young people will get engaged, empowered to take charge of thgeir SRHR needs in Uganda, including the most hard to reach areas like; Maliba, Bwesumbu, Bugoye, Munkunyu, Kitswamba, Kyabarungira, Buhuhira and Kyalhumba sub-counties in the hilly Busongora north in Rwenzori sub region. Other areas in Elgon region include; Mutooto, Benet, Bufumbo, Kwosir, Jeewa, Bubyangu, Twikat, Kitawoi and Bungokho in Elgon sun region.

According to a 2020/2021 district health survey, early sex rose to 55 per cent from 29 per cent among teenagers.

Ms Priscilla Chelangat, a female youth councillor in Kween, said 21 per cent of girls were subjected to female genital mutilation before Covid-19, but the situation has escalated to 60 per cent.

Julian Ayesiga Akiiki, RDC Kabalore district says in Mukunyu Sub-county, parents accused teachers of abating child marriages.

“The situation in our villages is scaring. During evening preps, most teachers and head teachers don’t wake up to monitor and supervise the children,” Ayesiga said. Yusuf Baseka, the Kasese district health officer, acknowledged that some teachers sexually harass girls in schools and urged head teachers to be vigilant.

The RHRN – 2 will take a holistic approach to end female genital mutilation, early sex, marriages, illegal abortions and increase access to SRHR and gender justice in Uganda.

RHU – Kabalore district leadership launch Right Here Right Now at Nyaika Hotel

Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights Experts brave COVID 19 to serve patients

Aldon Walukamba G. writes

Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRHR) medics are braving the COVID 19 pandemic risk, to offer Family Planning (FP) and counselling services to vulnerable, underserved patients.

Anisha Filda, who works for Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU) in Acholi sub region is one of the frontline SRHR experts traversing communities during the COVID 19, pandemic’s second wave in Uganda. She counsels youths, teenagers, mothers and men on how to avoid unwanted pregnancies, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in homes and how to embrace family planning methods.

“without fully taking charge, to tell the people about the dangers of unwanted pregnancies, SGBV and the need for Family planning, Uganda will end up with a population of unproductive, full of dependents and many school drops outs among the teenagers who get pregnant and give birth during the COVID 19 inter district lockdown” Filda says.

In Acholi sub region alone more than 4,000 girls below the age of 17 were impregnated during the lockdown in 2020. Nicholas Ogwang, the Uganda Human Rights Commission Acholi regional Officer says there is need of mass awareness and engagement with cultural, religious and political leaders during the pandemic to stop child marriages and promote family planning among those that are sexually active.

17 – year – old Joyce Katwesige, Youth Action Movement (YAM) chairperson for Hoima district says girls and young women have the right to sexual and reproductive health services, despite government restrictions of movement during the COVID 19 pandemic in Uganda.

Lynda K. Birungi, a Reproductive Health specialist at RHU head office in Kampala believes that young women and girls get pregnant because they are not given the chance to make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health wellbeing.

“Girls must be empowered to make their own decisions, about their bodies, future in health and education, but also to have access to ample health care services and education during the COVID 19 pandemic second wave 42 days lockdown” Birungi says.

Currently through the Ministry of Health (MoH), District local governments and Reproductive Health Uganda close to 10,000 young women and sexually active girls have been enrolled on Family planning and counselled by experts across Uganda during the COVID 19 pandemic.

Annet Kyarimpa, Manager Safe Motherhood at RHU says the SRHR services are offered courtesy of Advanced Family Planning (AFP) Initiative, under the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and ACCESS project funded by UKaid go on in various districts of Uganda.

“the free SRHR services have health many vulnerable people, despite challenges faced by service providers during the pandemic lockdown,” Kyarimpa says.

The Ministry of Health acknowledges that young people need to be empowered, to have the knowledge about choices they make in order to live healthy and rightful lives during the pandemic.

“Girls who become pregnant before they are 18 years of age lose their childhood. It becomes difficult for them to exercise their rights to education, health, safety, protection and an adequate quality of life in Uganda,” says Dr. Diana Atwiine Kanzira, Ministry of Health (MoH) Permanent Secretary.

According to government of Uganda and other researchers, during the COVID 19 pandemic wave one, close to 300,000 teenage girls got pregnant, cases of sexual and gender-based violence increased by more than 56% and many mothers got unwanted pregnancies in various parts of Uganda.

SRHR Experts administers Family Planning service to client in Bwaise – Kampala

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