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RHU Mentors Healthcare Providers in Management of Rape and SGBV Survivors

Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU) is equipping health care providers with the clinical management of rape, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) survivors.

Demeter Margret Namuyobo, RHU Medical Coordinator says after acquiring support from United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), RHU embarked on mentoring health service providers in the clinical management of rape and SGBV survivors in some regions of Uganda.

So far, the districts of Amudat, Abim, Kotido, Kampala and Moroto have benefited from the trainings, because of the urgent need for clinical skills among health care providers, cases of rape, sexual and gender-based violence.

This comes after increasing cases of rape and SGBV were reported from Karamoja, and central regions in 2020, following the onset of the COVID 19 pandemic. According to the Uganda Police Force 2020 crimes report the number of Sex Related Crimes in 2020 rose to 16,144 case compared to 15,638 cases reported in 2019.

Although these areas rank high in cases of rape, violence and defilement, they also practice female genital mutilation (FGM), which a form of gender violence.

Gimono Haddy, a Health care services provider at Loro health Centre II in Amudat district says the knowledge acquired from the RHU training funded by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), will help her serve the community, especially victims of rape and SGBV in Loro parish and the surrounding areas.

“I have acquired skills about how to communicate with rape and SGBV survivors, many of them fear to disclose to us upon coming to the health centre because in Amudat, sex is practiced culturally without consent. They fear to be punished by the elders in the kraals” Gimono says.

Catherine Asio, in charge of Alakas Health Centre II says the knowledge acquired from the RHU – UNFPA training will help her and the team handle swabs taken from survivors carefully before the 72 hours elapse, but also protect them from not getting spoilt.

“we face a challenge of handling virginal swabs taken from survivors of rape and SGBV, but after this training, we can use the specimen collection kit or refer the swabs immediately to the health Centre IV in time for storage” Asio says.

The trainings and other RHU – UNFPA funded activities are going on until December 2021.

Participants who attended the clinical management of rape and SGBV mentorship at Loro Health Centre II

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

Parliamentarians from Africa and Asia Commend RHU’s work

Parliamentarians from Africa and Asia have commended Reproductive Health Uganda’s (RHU) work in promoting sexual reproductive health rights (SRHR) services and Family Planning (FP).

While visiting RHU headquarters and Katego clinic, the parliamentarians were thrilled with RHU operations and promised to advocate a replica in Uganda and their home countries.

The purpose of the visit was to furnish the parliamentarians with what RHU has been does in reaching out to communities about sexual reproductive health rights (SRHR) services and Family Planning (FP). The parliamentarians from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Cameroon, Chad, Liberia among others, applauded RHU and its management in executing out workable strategies in promoting SRHR and FP.

Jackson Chekweko, RHU Executive Director in his remarks welcomed the parliamentarians to Uganda and RHU. He communicated to the visitors that RHU provides services in the hardest to reach and underserved parts of Uganda.

“We offer SRHR services in 29 districts of Uganda through 768 service points, 17 static clinics, 74 mobile facilities, 35 associated clinics and a network of hundreds of community-based organizations” Chekweko said.

The RHU Executive Director, also informed the parliamentarians, that over 1.5 million young people, women and men in Uganda are direct beneficiaries of RHU services per annum. This is achieved through the various service delivery and points located all over the country. He also said that RHU has a long standing experience of providing integrated comprehensive SRHR services and has championed the role of sexuality education in the country.

He however reiterated that in Uganda, “SRHR is not considered as an essential service which even worsened during the COVID19 pandemic crisis” Chekweko said.

Dr. Peter Ibembe, RHU Director of Programs communicated about the ICPD25 journey to the parliamentarians. He said that the Civil Society Organizations (CSO’s) like RHU are making strides in complementing government programs.

“In 2019 RHU while working with the National Population Council (NPC) mobilized CSOs to organize the pre ICPD25 symposium. Through this symposium a position paper was developed and commitments made” Dr. Ibembe said.

Dr Ibembe, said that amidst the COVID19 pandemic, RHU has so far provided 7.2 million integrated SRHR services, which include family planning, HIC prevention, care and treatment, breast and cervical cancer screening, sexually transmitted infections management etc. to more than 1.2 million people.

The young SRHR volunteers were also represented by Daisy Kandole, and Brian Ssekajja, SRHR advocates and volunteers at RHU.

Daisy Kandole, disclosed that RHU has empowered her as a young person to know her rights to reproductive health and also become an advocate of Sexual Reproductive Health.

“ the different youth friendly services and programmes that RHU offers, to many young people like her have been empowered and can make better choices regarding their sexual reproductive health rights” Kandole said.

On the other hand Brian Ssekaja, mentioned that RHU offers him a platform to advocate for reproductive health services to young people. He says that through his voulunteering work and services at RHU, he has been able to tlk to young people in schools and so extending SRHR information to them. He adds that COVID19 has affected most of te work young people have been doing through RHU because schools have been closed and most young people are at home.

Esther Chandiru, is  a female sex worker from Bwaise, in Kampala – Uganda. She said that she was reffered to RHU clinic Bwaise by a friend of hers.

Esther, commends RHU for the many times she has visited the Bwaise clinic, she has been charged fairly and sometimes offered free outreach services, unlike at other health centers charge a lot of money.

There after Jackson Chekweko, RHU ED presented some challenges faced by RHU to the parliamentarians.

“COVID19 has hit the organization so hard. Some of the development partners that have been supporting RHU have also stopped because they also have their own financial problems caused by the COVID19 pandemic. We need to engage some of these partners like the UK government that have cut funding to some of the ongoing projects. He challenged the different MPs to play a role in advocating for health funds and grunts to developing countries like Uganda” Chekweko said.

He also disclosed that there are limited resources allocated to reproductive health. The resources are not enough to serve the growing population in the country.

In his closing remarks the leader of the delegation Hon. Constantino from Tanzania commended RHU for the work they do to extend sexual reproductive health rights especially to young people and marginalized communities.

Hon. Constantino also presented a gift to RHU through the executive director from the entire delegation.

Centre – RHU ED Jackson Chekweko with Parliamentarians from Africa and Asia at RHU Headquarters

RHU – UNFPA Programme to End Child Marriage Thriving in Uganda

The COVID 19 pandemic lockdown has accelerated teenage pregnancies in Uganda.

But, the girls at greatest risk of getting pregnant and more vulnerable to Click here about UNFPA early marriages are often those dwelling in hard to reach areas. They come from poor families, marginalized groups or rural areas. They are also more likely to be out of school than their unmarried peers, robbed of the opportunity to thrive and fulfil their potential. Child marriage can lead to further isolation from family, friends and communities, and threaten girls’ livelihood and health.

Demeter Margret Namuyobo standing in Middle Counsels Clients before Tubal Litigation Procedure at Ataik HCIV – compressed

In July 2021, Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), launched a mapping programs and a pilot camp in Amuru district of Uganda, (pilot camp in Amuru news) to tackle child marriage in 13 of the most high-prevalence or high-burden districts like Kasese, Arua, Amuria, Kitgum, Amudat Kyegegwa, Amuru, Kapchorwa, Kampala, Madi – Okollo, Tororo, Kween, Moroto of Uganda.

RHU’s drive towards ending child marriage has never been stronger, with several resolutions by the Ugandan government and accenting to United Nations General Assembly and the Human Rights Council urging countries to increase investments in eliminating the practice.

According to Demeter Margret Namuyobo, RHU Medical Coordinator, the program to end child marriages involves increased capacity building in district local governments, carry out integrated sexual reproductive and health rights (SRHR) camps. The camps will provide free reproductive health training, counselling, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, HIV and information aimed at easing Sexual, cervical cancer screening and Gender Based Violence (SGBV).

“we are targeting teenagers, people with disabilities, women and men who are marginalized and in hard to reach areas” Namuyobo says.

The mapping in the district was done and the district COVID 19 task force and Health departments will work under strict standard operating procedures to curb COVID 19 until October 2021.

Dr. Okoth Obbo, Tororo District Health Officer applauds RHU and partners for coming up with this venture to end child marriages.

“the teenage pregnancy is high at 26%, but could increase if nothing is done in Tororo district” Dr. Okoth says. Click here for more News

Other health officers and Resident district Commissioners (RDC’s) from 12 districts have also been contacted for the program to take off.

Alice Akello, RDC Madi – Okollo says RHU – UNFPA are always in the district helping to ease the challenges faced in sexual reproductive and health rights access in the district.

“I am happy this program comes at the right time when we have increasing teenage pregnancies in Madi – Okollo” Ajio says.

In lower Madi – Okollo during the 42 days lockdown in 2021, 121 teenage pregnancies were registered and 102 early marriages. Click here for more News

Uganda Launches Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights League

Uganda has launched a Civil Society Organizations (CSO’s) league to enhance advocacy for sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR).

The league was launched by Dr. Jonathan Musinguzi, Director General National Population Secretariat, with its secretariat at Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU).

Charles Owekmeno, Chairperson CSO league in Uganda, who is also a National Coordinator for SRHR Alliance, says the CSO’s league currently comprises of 18 associations hinged on the promotion of Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) in Uganda.

Banner for SRHR CSO’ League members in Uganda

Jackson Chekweko, RHU Executive Director and Secretary to the CSO’s league is optimistic that with support from William and Flora Hewlet Foundation ‘Voices Project’, and other partners, the CSO’s Chapter will promote and support better sexual and reproductive health and rights at the national, regional and international level. One of the main league’s objective is to increasing synergies, by improving the capacities of the CSO’s to effectively carryout evidence-based advocacy interventions, but also amplify members associations, organizations voices to seek accountability on domestication and implementation of the international commitments/protocols.

Ugandans to Access Cheaper COVID 19 tests from RHU Clinics

Aldon Walukamba G writes

Ugandans can now access COVID 19 rapid diagnostic (RDT) tests at a cheaper cost from Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU) clinics in Uganda.

Dr. Annet Nagudi, Director of WISH2ACTION project at RHU says the market price for each COVID  19 antigen RDT test is 40,000 shillings. The price is low in order to allow the vulnerable and underserved people access COVID 19 RDT tests that are offered at a more expensive price in other outlets.

Courtesy photo of a Patient undergoing a COVID 19 test

“the RDT tests that pick ou the outer particles of the coronavirus will be carried out, but those clients found to be negative, but with symptoms, their samples will be transported to undergo a thorough polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test at the government facilities in Uganda” Dr. Nagudi says.

Dr. Kenneth Buyinza, RHU Manager Clinical Services says health experts at RHU underwent a competent RDT COVID 19 testing training exercise by the Ministry of Health Officials.

“following the rigorous training, in RDT testing of COVID 19 among our medical personnel, we are now ready to start testing COVID 19 at RHU clinics” Buyinza says.

Currently, the clinics are equipped with all the RDT testing and personnel protective equipment’s in all the branches.

According to Jackson Chekweko, RHU Executive Director, several Ugandans from various regions and districts of Uganda are shying away from the COVID 19 RDT testing services despite efforts by the health ministry, public and private entities effortlessly popularizing the services. This is because of lack of skilled personnel, services in some parts of the country and the high cost paid for the RDT testing.

“we therefore call upon the public to embrace the services RHU is offering in the quest to fight COVID 19 in Uganda” Chekweko says.

Chekweko says RDT testing at RHU will start with Owino, Bwaise and Katego clinics in Kampala and those in the central region of Uganda like Luweero, Mityana and Iganga inclusive as pilots.

Currently RDT tests undertaken from various accredited health centers in Uganda go for a minimum of 50,000 shillings.

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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Amidst COVID 19 : Safe Guarding the Health and Rights of Women and Girls

Uganda marked the World Population Day.  Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU), calls attention to the vulnerability and needs of women and girls amid the global Covid 19 pandemic.

There are so many options of contraceptives

Uganda Amidst COVID -19: Safeguarding the health and rights of women and girls

The author of this story is the Director of Programmes at Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU). Dr. Peter Ibembe, is also a researcher in Education, Maternal and Reproductive health

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Teenage Mothers Struggle for a Living during COVID 19 lockdown in Uganda

Brenda Wanichan, 12 from Agwata village in Dokolo district gave birth during the lockdown at 11 years through caesarean section, lives in discomfort.

Brenda Wanichan, 12 from Agwata village in Dokolo district gave birth during the lockdown at 11 years through caesarean section, lives in discomfort. She is forced to plough the land to earn a living against the doctor’s advice to provide for her child. Thus, Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU) sought to help raise voices of teenage girls, young women, youth and children.

Thus, Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU) sought to help raise voices of teenage girls, young women, youth and children for their leaders to put them at the centre of new development agenda that would see such injustices as teenage pregnancy, school drop out and abuse of sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) come to an end.

With less than one month to end the 42 days lockdown, it is crucial that the upcoming Sustainable Development issues in Uganda address the needs of teenagers and youth.

Click here : Teen Mothers Struggle for a Living during COVID 19 lockdown in Uganda

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