Getting the stage set with the right tracking tools on SGBV “it is now or never”

The Heroes for Gender transformative Action works through already existing structures and community level to build their capacity through trainings, support supervision and mentorship. The Heroes for gender transformative action use key strategic approaches which include; Gender transformation Approaches, Health system strengthening, Ecological model, human life cycle development and meaningful involvement of beneficiaries. These approaches the program will create vibrant networks of informed communities that work together with empowered health care providers to strengthen the health system and the community level models. The program will empower young girls, boys and women to make informed decisions on SRHR and be empowered to say no to sexual gender-based violence which remains one of the sever forms of gender inequality that affects health outcomes.

Meet Sister Oliver Nakajubi, a beneficiary of the Heroes for Gender transformative Action trainings for health workers.  The training   provided  comprehensive Sexual and Reproductive Health Services including sexual gender based violence response for young people and women of reproductive age. Oliver is a 30-Year-old registered midwife and doubles as a program focal person at Kalangala Health Centre IV.

Sister Oliver Nakajubi and a trained Youth Hero attend to a teenage mother as Sam Labu the Youth and Community Engagement Officer-Kalangala observes during a mentorship and coaching session at Kalangala HCIV

Kalangala HCIV is one of the health facilities supported by the program. The facility records reveal 51 females experienced injuries due Gender based violence in the month of October 2021 alone. Health workers like Ssiter Oliver did not have  adequate knowledge and skills to handle such cases reported at the facility.  it is through the Heores4GTA that health workers are now receiving training and thus building  the capacity of health care providers to respond to and prevent cases of SGBV in communities, 5 health workers were selected and trained in provision of comprehensive SRH and SGBV services at facility level.

Sister Oliver Nakajubi, has benefited from the health workers training that was carried out by Heroes for Gender transformation in line with systems strengthening where she was trained on how to integrate SGBV services with the routine health care services that women and young people seek for.  She was also trained on how to provide differentiated care to teenage mothers and victims of gender based violence. Oliver pledges to share the skills will fellow workers to improve service delivery at facility level. As a follow on activities, the cluster coordinator works with the district health team to do mentorship and coaching and health facility level using the whole facility model so that facilities become youth friendly.

At Kalangala Health Center 4, sister Oliver Nakajubi shares  the tools she has  put in place to record and track SGBV cases.  She benefited from a health workers training conducted by the Heroes for Gender transformative Action  where she got skills  in interpreting  the laws and guidelines  relating to SGBV.  She  was also provided with tools to support her documentation .

Through the Health systems strengthening activities at district level  the program  supports  and provides quality and rights bases SRHR/GBV services  and ensures that young peopoe and young women  have access to  comprehensive , accurate and  gender transformative SRHR  information  to enable them improve their decision making skills.

Heroes for Gender transformative action is designed to address key sexual reproductive health and rights barriers in 9 high burden districts in Uganda. It is implemented in a consortium of four organisations namely; Amref Health Africa in Uganda, Cordaid Uganda, Mifumi and International Research Center for Women. This consortium is formed on the basis of the comparative advantage of each of the partners however working together to promote synergies.

Article by Sam Labu Youth Community Engagement  Officer

Amref Health Africa

Amref Health Africa teams up with African communities to create lasting health change.