A Nurse’s Story: Rose of Kalangala Health Centre IV

Photo: Nurse Rose providing ANC services to a young mother in Kalangala Health center IV. Credit: Zahara Abdul

At Kalangala Health Centre IV, where Lake Victoria’s waters both connect and isolate island communities, Nurse Rose begins her day before sunrise. For years, she witnessed the quiet suffering of women and girls-adolescents afraid to ask questions about their bodies, survivors of violence unsure where to turn, and women with disabilities navigating health facilities that were never designed with them in mind.

“I used to feel that we were trying our best,” Rose reflects, “but I knew we could do better. We needed more skills, more understanding, and a safer way to serve our girls.”

That shift began with support from the Heroes for Gender Transformative Action Programme. Through structured trainings, mentorship, and on-site coaching, Rose and her colleagues were equipped with practical, lifesaving competencies that transformed service delivery.

Building Skills. Changing Mindsets.

The programme trained health workers in:

• Adolescent and youth-friendly SRHR services-how to provide confidential, non-judgmental counseling that respects privacy and builds trust.
• Disability-inclusive care-understanding different forms of disability, improving communication techniques (including respectful language and supported decision-making), and ensuring physical accessibility within service points.
• Clinical management of SGBV-including survivor-centered care, proper documentation, referrals, and psychosocial support.
• Integrated SRHR services-linking family planning, antenatal care, HIV services, and SGBV response to ensure no client is sent away without comprehensive support.

“Before the training, many adolescents feared coming to the facility,” Rose says. “Now we know how to create a welcoming space. We ensure privacy. We listen without judgment. We give them information that empowers them to make decisions.”

Reaching the underserved through medical outreaches

One of the most transformative aspects for Rose was learning how to better serve women and girls with disabilities.

One of the most transformative aspects for Rose was learning how to better serve women and girls with disabilities.

“I realized that sometimes the barrier was not the disability-it was our attitude,” she explains. “We learned how to communicate clearly, how to allow extra time, and how to respect their autonomy. Now, young women with disabilities come for family planning, antenatal care, and even to report violence. They feel seen.”

The program also strengthened referral systems between the health facility, community structures, and local protection actors. Survivors of violence are now supported through a coordinated pathway that prioritizes dignity and timely care.

A Safer Space for Adolescents

Kalangala’s island geography presents unique vulnerabilities-mobility, fishing communities, and economic pressures increase risks of teenage pregnancy and exploitation. Through Heroes-supported training, Rose helped establish adolescent-friendly service hours and strengthened school health outreach efforts.

“We don’t just wait at the facility anymore,” she says. “We engage schools and communities. We explain that Sexual Reproductive Health & Rights (SRHR) services are about health, not shame.”

Measurable Change, Personal Impact

Since the program’s support, Kalangala Health Centre IV has seen:

• Increased adolescent attendance for family planning and counseling.
• Improved reporting and management of SGBV cases.
• Greater uptake of antenatal and postnatal services.
• More inclusive services for women and girls with disabilities. For Rose, the greatest reward is confidence, both hers and her clients’

“Today, when a 14-year-old girl walks in alone, she knows she will not be judged. When a woman with a disability comes for care, she knows we will listen. That is the difference Heroes has made.” Rose said, with an assuring smile.

As we work toward equity in access to care, Nurse Rose’s story reminds us that investing in frontline health workers is one of the most powerful ways to ensure that no woman or girl is left behind.

Photo credits: E-pictures Media & Zahara Abdul

By Communications at Amref Uganda

Amref Health Africa

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