Religious leaders committed to promote family planning and sexual reproductive health through faith based approaches.

Religious leaders under Faith to Action Network, a global network of faith based organisations have committed to improve and promote family health through advancing family planning and reproductive health services using faith based approaches. This took place during a community dialogue held in Mityana district at the Diocese. 

Bishop Samuel Stephen Kazimba of Mityana Diocese said that once religious leaders are provided with technical support and right information, they can be great advocates for family planning in alongside with their faith.

“We are supporting families to have increased access to information and quality of services on family planning and reproductive health consistent with their faith, values, beliefs and principles,” he added.

Jackie Katana, International Advocacy Officer, in-charge of Faith to Action Network at DSW Uganda said that the network promotes dialogue, builds the technical and financial capacity of faith based organisations and religious institutions.

“It also facilitates sustained advocacy and programming in support of family planning and reproductive health,” she added.

Katana noted that religious use religious gathering to give right information about family planning to community members.

“We have engaged religious leaders in advocating for integration and mainstreaming of family health and wellbeing in policies,” she added.

Faith to Action Network has provided technical support to six faith based organisations in Uganda and linked them ot Population Action International to access funding for family planning advocacy in Kotido, Moroto, Wakiso, Rakai, Mityana, Kyenjojo, Kabalore and Busia.

Uganda Family Planning Advocacy Group Launched

By Esther Namirimu

DSW Uganda in partnership with the National Population Secretariat and Partners in Population and Development Africa Regional Office (PPD ARO) organised a meeting to launch the Family Planning Advocacy Group. The breakfast meeting which was attended by Members of Parliament, District Health Officers, District Health Educators, Representatives from Civil Society Organisations, Journalist and other stakeholders took place at Imperial Royale hotel in Kampala on 17th August 2016.

 

The Family Planning Group was created to advocate for improved health policies; advocate for more budgetary allocation at national and local levels, more efficient use of those resources and improved transparency and accountability. The group will in addition contribute to influencing decision making processes; exposing leakages and bottlenecks and reduce wastage in Family Planning Health expenditure.

Uganda Family Planning Advocacy Group Launched by Dr. Jotham Musinguzi Executive Director of PPD ARO. Photo by Esther Namirimu

Dr. Jotham Musinguzi, Executive Director of Partners in Population and Development Africa Regional Office (PPD ARO). Photo By Esther Namirimu

Dr. Dinah Nakiganda, Acting Assistant Commissioner Reproductive Health-Ministry of Health. Photo by Esther Namirimu

Members of Parliament who attended the launch of the Family Planning Advocacy Group. Photo by Esther Namirimu

Dr. Moses Muwonge, Executive Director of SAMASHA. Photo by Esther Namirimu

Ms. Diana Tibesigwa, Advocacy Officer DSW Uganda. Photo by Esther Namirimu

Representatives from Civil Societies. Photo by Esther Namirimu

Life in My Shoes- Youth Camp in Pictures

Registration on arrival (Photo courtesy of RAHU)

Mr.Herbert Mona, Country Director- DSW Uganda was the Guest of Honour at the opening ceremony of the Annual Youth Camp 2016. #LifeInMyShoes  (Photo courtesy of RAHU)

 

Mr.Herbert Mona, Country Director- DSW Uganda addressing young people at the opening ceremony of the Annual Youth Camp 2016. #LifeInMyShoes

Young People at SRHR Camp

Over 500 Young People listening to the Guest of Honour, Mr. Herbert Mona as he gave the opening speech at the SRHR Annual Youth Camp

 

Ms. Olivia Nanono, DSW Youth Champion conducting a session on Menstrual health

Mr. Deo Mukasa, DSW Youth Champion conducting a session on SRHR

DSW Youth Champions engaged in community outreach

 

 

Focus Group Discuss on Reproductive Health

 

   

Photos by Esther Namirimu- DSW Uganda Communications Officer

Health Financing Radio Talk Show

15th-June-2016, DSW Uganda together with the International Community of Women Living with HIV in East Africa(ICWEA) and Action Group for Health, Human Rights and HIV/AIDS (AGHA) will be participating in the Health Financing radio  talk show tonight on Radio One-(Spectrum Talk Show) at 7pm to discuss the new 2016/17 budget allocation for the health sector. Ms. Diana Tibesigwa, managing the "Securing Health through Advocacy and People's Empowerment," (SHAPE-Uganda) will represent DSW-Uganda.

 #Health #Financing #Uganda #Budgeting #BudgetAdvocacy #YoungPeople #FamilyPlanning #SRHR


Posted by Esther Namirimu- Communications Officer -DSW Uganda

1,850billion allocated to the Health Sector National Budget

As compared to last year (FY2015/16), the Health Budget for FY 2016/17 was increased by 44% (i.e UGX 1,270.81bn for FY2015/16 to UGX 1,850 bn for 2016/17). Major investments are being made towards Infrastructure development and renovations of health centers across the country and the Cancer Institute has over 150% increment -this obviously due to the radio-therapy machine breakdown & the fact that they are starting to operate independent of Mulago this FY among others. There are really cosmetic and minimal changes towards the medicines and Non Wage bill but there is an increment. This is the Visual summary of the health sector national budget allocation.

#Health #SHAPE #HIV #FamilyPlanning #ARVs #NationalMedicalStores #Cancer #SRHR

Posted by Esther Namirimu

Summary of the Uganda National Budget allocations

Finance Minister Matia Kasaija presents the 2016/17 National Budget on Wednesday. - See more at: http://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1426433/live-budget-reading-day#sthash.FHfBjd0C.dpuf

 The Minister of Finance, Hon. Matia Kasaija presented the 2016/17 National Budget on Wednesday 8th June 2016. Below is a summary of the sector nominal allocations. The total budget is sh26.361 trillion.

In his conclusion, Minister Kasaija says: "Madam Speaker, in conclusion, I wish to commend this budget to all Ugandans in our quest for the country to attain middle income status. The strategic choices we have made in the budget for next year concretize the foundation for the prosperity of future generations. Uganda’s Vision 2040 aspires for “A transformed Ugandan Society from a Peasant to Modern and Prosperous Country by 2040”. This budget represents yet another milestone towards this goal."

Posted by Esther Namirimu

DSW Youth Champions dominate the Annual SRHR Youth Camp

By Esther Namirimu

DSW Youth Champions dominated the six day event annual SRHR Youth Camp which was held at Hannah Mixed School in Nsangi. Using life skills and knowledge on SRHR impacted to them DSW, the youth champions facilitated Focus Group Discussions on menstrual hygiene, teenage pregnancy, family planning, condom use demonstration, HIV and other Sexually transmitted diseases. 

This was a life changing opportunity for more than 30 skilled youth champions to outshine the young people who had no idea about Sexual Reproductive Healths.

Considering the fact that teenagers in East Africa are still facing challenges of unwanted pregnancies and STDs, this year’s camp was timely and it has created an environment where young people build networks with each other and can interact with their peers freely.

Through activities like games and sports, young people tapped on life skills and sexual reproductive health knowledge every afternoon.

Ms. Olivia Nanono , a youth champion conducting a session on menstrual health

DSW Youth Champions who participated in the Annual SRHR Youth Camp

DSW Youth Champions

Youth camp equips over 500 youths with knowledge on Sexual Reproductive Health Rights

By Esther Namirimu

 

Over 500 youths between ages of 14-24 were last week equipped with knowledge on life skills and sexual reproductive health during a five day (22nd-28th May) Sexual Reproductive Health Rights Annual Youth Camp dubbed, “Life In My Shoes”.

The camp which was organized by Reach A hand Uganda in partnership with Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevoelkerung (DSW) brought together in-school young people from all over East Africa to engage in themed activities that range from Focused Group Discussions (FGDs), Counseling Sessions, HCT service provision, one on one discussions with mentors and icons, drama, music and sports activities as well as community outreaches.

 

Mr. Clyde Michael Muhumuza conducting a Focus Group Discussion on SRHR

DSW Youth Champions facilitating a Focus Group Discussion

Ms. Phiona Naigaga conducting a Focus Group Discuss about Reproductive Health.

DSW Uganda Changing Communities through Youth Truck Services

DSW Youth Truck is a mobile outreach service, which sensitizes youth in rural areas and urban slums on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), including HIV/AIDS prevention through films and other activities. 

The project aims at positive behaviour change among young people through a variety of activities such as establishing and strengthening youth clubs or peer groups, providing information, education, and services on/for sexual and reproductive health.

 

In 2015, DSW joined Reach A Hand Uganda (RAHU) in facilitating the Annual Youth Camp held at Hannah Mixed School in Nsangi. DSW used the Youth Truck to moblise youths and educate them through highly participatory and youth friendly methods like film shows, games and sports activities, as well as group work, role plays and discussions in which themes like adolescent sexual reproductive health and rights information and education, entrepreneurship skills training, life skills education and non-violent conflict resolution.

This year's Youth Camp themed, "Life in my shoes," will take place between 22nd and 28th May.

Posted by Esther Namirimu- Communications Officer- DSW Uganda