Global Youth Connect – Reproductive Health Uganda

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The First Deputy Prime Minister of Uganda Commends Reproductive Health Uganda Efforts to Improve Sexual Reproductive Health Access and Address Disparities

The First Deputy Prime Minister of Uganda and Minister for East African Community Affairs, the Rt. Hon Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, has applauded Reproductive Health Uganda for its efforts in improving access to sexual reproductive health services in Uganda, particularly among vulnerable and marginalised communities.

Speaking during the RHU 67th annual general meeting held in Kampala, Hon Kadaga lauded the organisation for its dedication to improving the health status of Ugandans through increased access to sexual reproductive health services.

The emeritus Speaker of the ninth and tenth Parliament of Uganda acknowledged RHU’s key role in providing vital services including HIV and STI testing and counseling, family planning, and maternal health care to millions of people across Uganda.

Despite the commendable efforts of RHU in providing key sexual and reproductive health services, Hon Kadaga acknowledged that there was still a considerable gap in the availability of these essential services to communities.

Her remarks highlighted an unfulfilled need among vulnerable and marginalised groups, underlining the continued importance of work towards expanding provision of such vital health services in Uganda.

“Data clearly show that we have a significant disparity in access to sexual and reproductive health services, with my home region of Busoga alone accounting for over seven percent of the overall national figures on teenage pregnancies,” Hon Kadaga said, before adding, “This is a sobering statistic, and it underscores the urgent need for greater access to the range of vital sexual reproductive and health services.”

“The frequency of these inequalities represents an alarming failure of our collective efforts to safeguard young Ugandans, with damaging consequences for both individuals and society at large,” she said.

Hon Kadaga, emphasised the need for a comprehensive approach to addressing such sexual and reproductive health-related challenges, with increased involvement of men and boys.

“Despite well-intentioned interventions and programmes aimed at promoting sexual and reproductive health, many fail to engage men and boys adequately, limiting the effectiveness and reach of these initiatives,” she said.

Hon Kadaga highlighted the vital role that men and boys must play in addressing these issues and advocated for the inclusion of effective outreach, education, and support programmes targeted not only women and girls but also men and boys.

She said, by ensuring the active involvement of both women and men in such initiatives, it would be possible to drive change and make tangible inroads towards addressing sexual and reproductive health-related challenges, promoting more positive and healthy outcomes for all of Uganda’s citizens.

“We need to broaden our approach because it is not only girls who need education and support around sexual reproductive health. We also need to engage boys and men to ensure they are prepared for the responsibilities that come with sexual relationships,” Hon Kadaga noted.

This could be done by adopting comprehensive and holistic approaches that include mindset change to promote safer, healthier relationships.

She emphasised the collective responsibility to ensure sexual health and wellbeing of all Ugandans, of which everyone needed to rise to the challenge.

In a meeting filled with key stakeholders and partners, RHU showcased its recent achievements, unveiling several new initiatives aimed at reaching the underserved and vulnerable communities in Uganda.

Hon Kadaga called upon other organisations to emulate RHU’s efforts and support the establishment of essential health service delivery points in order to guarantee access to such services among the marginalised and vulnerable communities.

She pledged continued government support to RHU and other similar organisations devoted to improving reproductive health of Ugandans.

RHU easily has become a force to reckon with when it comes to sexual reproductive health services, mobilising communities and elites alike to ensure no one is left behind regardless of their ability to pay for the services.

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Global Youth Connect Project Calls for Small Grants Applications

Introduction:

Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU) under funding from the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) on the Global Youth Connect project announces the call for applications of project proposals through the small grant scheme.

About the Global Youth Connect Project:

Global Youth Connect is a digital platform established by the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and hosted by Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU). It is centered on empowering diverse young people with vast, accurate, and age-appropriate information on sexual and reproductive health hence improving their well-being. The platform, whose major strategy is meaningful and inclusive youth engagement/ participation takes on the form of an online information portal that features a website with vast interactive features and linkages with other IPPF youth communication channels.

The global youth connect platform performs explicitly three core functions:

Collation, sharing, and debating youth participation practice (tools, standards, policies, ideas)
Connecting and amplifying IPPF youth communications channels
Scanning for and sharing opportunities to advance the IPPF youth agenda i.e. training, grants, advocacy forums, etc.

What does the small grants scheme seek to achieve?

The scheme seeks to support youth-driven initiatives and innovations that advance adolescents and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health across the federation. We believe that young people have the ability to develop and implement solutions geared towards improving their own sexual and reproductive health and being provided with a financial stimulus, their capability would be accelerated.

Who should apply? The scheme targets:

Young people (10-24years) within or attached to the IPPF Member associations are interested in designing and implementing interventions aimed at improving the SRHR of fellow young people.

Themes under which the application should be based: Note: Your application can be directed in any of the themes listed below.

Creative Artistic Art or videos to promote SRHR for adolescents and young people
Strategies to increase SRHR for vulnerable populations, especially Persons with disabilities (PWDs), Young people LGBTQI+, Young people living with HIV, Young people living in poverty, young people using drugs, etc
Strategies/ideas to increase access to Comprehensive Sexuality Education for adolescents and young people
Using digital media to amplify youth networks and empower young people with SRHR information across the federation

Please note:

Your proposal should be in pdf format
Your submission should be shared in English
Your proposal should include all the details included in the project proposal summary
There should be no administration costs as per budget.
Young people can apply either as individuals or groups. Only young people affiliated with IPPF associations are eligible.

Duration: 6 Months (December 2022 –May 2023)

Grant amount: $5,000

Deadline: 20^th November 2022