Arua, Uganda – 13th September: Three Danish Members of Parliament visited Uganda from the 12th -15th September to get an insight into the integrated sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and gender-based violence (GBV) prevention interventions by the Government of Uganda.
“We are here to understand what you are doing so that when we go back to Copenhagen, we are ambassadors of what you are doing in Arua,” said Hon. Henrik Dahl of the Liberal Alliance Party, speaking at a meeting with Arua District Local Leaders. The other two Members of Parliament were Hon. Nick Hækkerup, of the Social Demokratiet Party and Hon. Ulla Sandbæk of the Alternative Party.
The delegation, led by Hon. Henrik Dahl visited health facilities, youth centers, women centers and homes in refugee settlements in Arua district, West Nile, as well as several sites in Kampala that are benefitting from interventions supported by the Danish Government through UNFPA and other partners.
They wanted to get an in-depth understanding on issues like the causes of maternal death in Uganda and what is being done to reduce the numbers, or how partners are working with local institutions to change culturally-based norms, such as child marriage, among other issues.
In December 2017, the Danish government signed a five-year agreement with UNFPA committing DKK 85 million, equivalent to approximately USD 13 million towards improving women and young people’s health in Uganda.
token of appreciation from Hon. Henrik Dahl, leader of the Danish
delegation.© Prossy Nakanjako/UNFPA Uganda
“I am very sure you are doing this not because you have a lot of money, but because you have a heart to help those in distress. So when you go back home extend our gratitude,” said Mr. Ismael Ochengel, the Chief Administrative Officer, Arua District.
During their visit to Arua, the delegation was accompanied by Mr. Alain Sibenaler, UNFPA Representative in Uganda; Ms. Majbrit Holm Jakobsen, Charge d' Affaires E.P at the Embassy of Denmark in Uganda; Ms. Lise Abildgaard Sørensen, Counsellor-Team Leader at the Danish Embassy in Uganda; Mr. Thomas Søndergaard Sarup, Secretary, Foreign Affairs Committee in Denmark; Ms. Lena Hothes, Senior Advisor, SRHR Health and HIV/AID at the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ms. Pernille Fenger, Chief of UNFPA Nordic Office; and Ms. Mette Kirstine Schmidt from the Danish Family Planning Association.
Compiled by Prossy Jonker Nakanjako
