KAMULI: A three-year project aimed at advancing the sexual and reproductive health and rights of adolescents and youth in the Eastern Uganda districts of Kamuli and Mayuge in the Busoga region has been launched by the Kyabazinga of Busoga His Royal Highness William Wilberforce Gabula Nadiope on March 16. The project was launched in the presence of the Deputy Ambassador of the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Uganda Mr. Ole Reidar Bergum. the UNFPA Deputy Representative Mr. Daniel Alemu and other high level officials.
The EYE Universal SRHR Project envisions ensuring every adolescent and youth in the two districts of Kamuli and Mayuge, especially those furthest behind, have access to sexual and reproductive health and rights information and services and exercise reproductive rights, free of coercion, discrimination, and violence.
Funded through the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Uganda, the project worth NOK 45,000,000 (approximately USD 4,491,012) will be implemented by UNFPA in partnership with Marie Stopes Uganda, CARE International and Naguru Teenage Information and Health Centre under the tagline “My Body, My Life, My World.”
In his remarks, UNFPA Deputy Representative Mr. Daniel Alemu said in Uganda, today’s adolescents and youth who are over 78 percent of the population are key to shaping social and economic development, challenging social norms and values, and building the foundation of the world’s future.
“While notable progress has been made, many young people – especially adolescent girls – are denied the investments and opportunities that they require to realize their full potential. In Uganda, sexual and reproductive health needs of adolescents and young women have remained largely unmet,” he noted.
He said the project will contribute towards ensuring that every adolescent and youth everywhere, especially those furthest behind, have access to integrated Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights information and services and exercise reproductive rights, free of coercion, discrimination, and violence, and will positively impact on reducing maternal deaths and unintended teenage pregnancies.
“It is hoped that the project will positively impact on reducing unintended pregnancies, teenage pregnancies, and maternal deaths. It will also empower adolescents and young people, including those in hard-to-reach communities and those most at risk, to decide over their own bodies, make informed choices, and utilize high quality, integrated SRHR information and services,” Alemu added.
In his remarks, the Deputy Ambassador of the Royal Norwegian Embassy Mr. Ole Reidar Bergum said sexual and reproductive health and rights is a global priority for Norway.
“We are happy to support the Government of Uganda through our partners to achieve its goals of reducing child marriage, gender-based violence and teenage pregnancies through increasing access to SRHR services in Kamuli and Mayuge districts,” he said.
The Deputy Ambassador added that promoting and protecting sexual and reproductive health is essential to achieve gender equality and prevent unnecessary deaths and suffering.
“Modern contraceptives allow women, girls and their partners to decide the number, spacing and timing of children, and some also prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Having access to these contraceptives is both a public health and a human rights issue,” the Deputy Ambassador said.
The three-year project will be implemented in alignment with the Human Capital Development Programme Implementation Action Plan with its implementation guided and overseen by the line Ministries of Health, Education and Sports, and the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development and will reach a total of 278,061 young people aged 10-24 years which will represent almost 70 percent of Uganda's population aged 10-24 years.
- Written by Emmanet Nabwire
