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Government Applauds RHU for Providing SRHR and Gender Equality Services
Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU) has improved in providing sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR), gender, and equity-related services in Uganda.
The observation was made by Dr. Charles Olaro, Director of Health Services at the Ministry of Health while presenting a speech on behalf of the Minister of Health at the 65th RHU annual general meeting (AGM) at Lira Margarita Palace Hotel.
He said that the Ministry of Health appreciates RHU in providing sexual reproductive and health rights services in Uganda and is a leader in providing these services, fighting gender-based violence, female genital mutilation to the vulnerable and underserved.
Statistics recorded in the year 2020 – 2021, indicate that RHU offered 7,171,805 million services to 1,093,420 clients compared to 7,721,138 services to 1513,164 clients in 2019/ 2020. The services offered include post-abortion care, adolescents SRHR services, family planning (FP), maternal health, HIV testing, sexual, gender-based violence (SGBV) counseling.
Jackson Chekweko, RHU Executive Director explained that the slight drop in services and clients in 2020, occured due to the COVID 19 pandemic effects. This he says has also accelerated teenage pregnancies and cases of SGBV in slums, refugee camps, and other hard-to-reach areas of Uganda.
Among the many issues highlighted, Chekweko called on the government of Uganda to allow for free emergency pills to be given to youths in Uganda.
“It is our wish that government makes emergency contraceptive pills free because many young people cannot afford them which limits access and this increases numbers of unintended pregnancies,” Chekweko posited.
Nathan T. Kipande, RHU National Executive Committee (NEC) Chairperson applauded the government for recognizing RHU in offering SRHR / FP services and upon its achievements despite COVID 19 and budget constraints among other issues.
“We will strengthen governance and management of RHU in the coming year to reach out to more people with SRHR / FP services,” Kipande declared.
The AGM was attended by 60 delegates from the government, NEC members, RHU staff, and the media.
Dr. Charles Olaro Director Health Services at Ministry of Health at RHU – AGM in Lira
RHU – DFPA root for Community Mentorship to Fight Gender-Based Violence
Hoima communities have been empowered to identify and report cases of sexual and gender violence (SGBV), courtesy of Reproductive health Uganda (RHU) and the Danish Family Planning Association (DFPA).
Nancy Apiyo, RHU Gender Coordinator says that the Sexual Reproductive Health Rights and gender equality (SRHRGE) project trained 1,100 persons 80% women on issues of gender-based violence (GBV) and SGBV in Hoima District. The SRHRGE project changed and relaxed acts of dislike of, contempt for, and ingrained prejudice against women.
Apiyo, says that these acts devalue women, normalize their abuse, and perpetrators claim GBV is accidental, ignores sexism, promote aggressive masculinity, and use men’s achievements to exonerate, excuse, and deny the impact of their behavior. Therefore, women have also been empowered to stand up for their rights and report GBV and SGBV issues, penetrate leadership positions and also fend for their families.
UNFPA Applauds RHU for Promoting Family Planning in Uganda
Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU) partners have resolved to prioritize family planning (FP) access areas that government can implement easily.
This was disclosed at a sustainability, readiness assessment dialogue by partners like the Ministry of Health, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and some Civil Society Organizations (CSO’s) at Ridar hotel in Mukono.
Roselline Achola, UNFPA Program Analyst for FP/RHCS says the sustainability, readiness assessment dialogue aimed to bridge the gap between public and private family planning stakeholders in Uganda.
She says the private and public sector in Uganda, given good data collection, analysis and reporting can find solutions to the challenges facing access and delivery of family planning services in Uganda.
“as partners are trying to scale down funding to Uganda, evaluation of family planning and reproductive health services is a great step to take to have family planning services by ourselves,” Achola said.
Dr. Peter Ibembe, Reproductive Health Uganda Director of Programs advised meeting stakeholders from the Ministry of Health, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and Civil Society Organizations to prioritize family planning areas that can be easily implemented and funded by partners.
“Let us prioritize key areas which can be easily implemented for better results,” Dr. Ibembe.
The sustainability, readiness assessment dialogue was attended by the Ministry of Health and other CSO’s.
Group photo : RHU-UNFPA -MOH and CSOs at Ridar Hotel in Mukono
Kyangwali Settlement Stakeholders Call for Continued SRHR Service Delivery as ACCESS Project Closes
Stakeholders in the Kyangwali refugee settlement in Kikuube district are calling for continued sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services, if there is to be a tremendous reduction in unplanned births, maternal deaths, teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. In 2021, Reproductive Health Uganda’s (RHU) ACCESS, a project funded by the United Kingdom government (UKaid) was launched in the Kikuube district to accelerate the acquisition of enhanced and integrated SRHR and family planning services among the refugees and host communities in Kyangwali refugee settlement.
According to Dr. Peter Ibembe, RHU Director of Programs, the project focused on strengthening public systems to integrate and adopt SRHR services through training village health teams (VHTs), peer educators to provide home care.
The ACCESS project was also launched to co-produce solutions that improve preparedness efforts, response, and recovery efforts and that tackle urgent and sensitive SRHR issues.
The ACCESS project was reduced to nine months from three years after @UKaid called off funding its implementation.
This stunned RHU the ACCESS project implementers and stakeholders like United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), Office the Prime Minister (OPM), Medical Teams International (MTI), Kikuube district local government, and Spice FM.
Kyangwali refugee settlement was selected to benefit from the project because:
- more than 30 women were dying each month from birth-related complications
- 600 babies are body every month
- The host communities and 130,000 refugees are underserved with family planning and other SRHR services
- High cases of teenage pregnancies, sexual and gender-based violence
- High HIV/ AIDS prevalence and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
However, within nine months of operation, 8000 people have benefited from free SRHR services, 60 VHT’s trained, and 20 health care providers. The project also provided bicycles to VHT’s, sanitation equipment and conducted outreaches at all health Centers in the Kikuube district.
However, as the project winds up in the district, stakeholders argue that the SRHR services offered and ACCESS project gains must be sustained.
Nicholas Kwikiriza, Kikuube district health officer says without the RHU – ACCESS project, maternal health challenges, teenage pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, and gender-based violence may increase. He calls on the OPM, UNHCR, and MTI to continue supporting the RHU – ACCESS project.
“the UNHCR, MTI, and OPM need to come out bravely to support RHU – ACCESS project to continue because of the demand for SRHR services and family planning created by the RHU – ACCESS project,” Kwikiriza said.
Robert Musiime, HIV/AIDS Coordinator at MTI says the challenges are still available that need the RHU – ACCESS project needs to continue.
John Bosco Kyaligonza, Kyangwali refugee settlement Commandant says such a very crucial project must be supported by another funder to maintain and increase SRHR services in the settlement.
Dr. Ibembe, however, says RHU is here to stay and welcome other funders to come on board after the ACCESS project closed its operations.
RHU – ACCESS project stakeholders from Kyangwali refugee settlement in Kikuube district
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.
Lango Cultural Leader Signs 29 Resolutions to Achieve Demographic Dividends
His Highness the Won Nyaci me Lango Yossam Odur Ebii, has appended his signature to 29 resolutions made by the Lango Cultural foundation, and geared towards achieving the demographic dividends.
“I have been saddened by the situation in my Kingdom. Yesterday a man was brought to me, he had slept with the daughter”- His highness the Won Nyaci me Lango, Yossam Odur Ebii.
He says that from this day going forward! WORD should be spread, people should have manageable children. Children they can take care of in Lango sub region and Uganda.
Jackson Chekweko, Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU) Executive Director has appreciated the commitment from Lango Cultural foundation and applauded the its leadership for the work done towards promoting family planning. He howver called for immediate action to end teenage pregnancies that are higher than the national average of 25% in most parts of Lango sub region.
“1 out 3 young girls in Lango is either pregnant or has had a child. But how many of these pregnancies end up in safe delivery? Or even unsafe abortions and how many have led to death? WE NEED TO ACT NOW” says Chekweko.
In September 2020, cultural leaders from the Lango Kingdom in northern Uganda for the first time signed a joint/group resolution to promote family planning. The resolution, which impacts all eight districts in the Lango region, will focus on educating communities about family planning and integrating family planning into the kingdom’s budget and development plan. Lango Kingdom’s cultural leaders are custodians of local traditions and important influencers of community values and health seeking behaviors.
Unmet need for family planning in the Lango region is 27.4% among married women and girls. Cultural preferences for large families and substantial dowries for young brides have traditionally hampered family planning use. This has contributed to a teen pregnancy rate of 35.2% in the region.
Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU) with support from Advance Family Planning has supported family planning advocacy in the Lira district of Lango since 2017.
In 2019, during a meeting with the Lira district advocacy working group, a local district speaker identified the challenge of cultural leaders speaking negatively about family planning within the community. In August 2020, the National Population Council (NPC), a national governing body, held a meeting in Lira with representatives of the Lango Cultural Foundation, the kingdom’s governing body, on how to engage with cultural leaders to promote family planning. They identified the council of clan chiefs, overseen by the paramount chief, as key to their advocacy efforts.
The district working group brought together clan leaders in September 2020 to build consensus on the need to prioritize and promote family planning. Speakers from RHU; UNFPA; the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development; NPC; and the Lira district health officer shared compelling narratives and statistics highlighting the importance of family planning to support economic development and harness the demographic divided.
His Highness the Won Nyaci me Lango Yossam Odur Ebii, appending his signature
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