The Building Sustainability Measures to Improve Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Services for Young People in Uganda project focuses on empowering youth in Mayuge District to access continued, youth-friendly SRH services. Leveraging prior successes from Porticus-funded initiatives and proven strategies by Simavi, the project strengthens public and private clinics and empowers young people for evidence-based advocacy. Special attention is given to vulnerable groups, including youth living with HIV/AIDS, fisher folk, and young women in commercial sex work, ensuring a sustained impact in the region.
Location: Mayuge District, Eastern Uganda
Partners: Simavi and Family Life Education Program (FLEP)
Foundation: Building on previous Porticus support and leveraging proven approaches tested by Simavi.
Overall Goal
To empower young people in Mayuge District by ensuring continued access to youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services.
Objectives
- Strengthen Clinic Capacity: Enhance the ability of targeted public and private clinics to deliver high-quality youth-friendly SRH services.
- Empower Youth for Advocacy: Equip young people with the skills and tools to conduct evidence-based advocacy to boost awareness and support for youth-friendly SRH services.
Strategies for Implementation
- Full Clinic Approach:
- Train service providers, Health Unit Management Committees, and peer educators at selected public and private health centers.
- Focus on delivering comprehensive youth-friendly services (YFS) to improve quality and accessibility.
- Youth Empowerment and Social Accountability:
- Enable young people, both girls and boys, to assess and monitor the quality of SRH services using social accountability tools like community scorecards.
- Engage youth in advocacy, ensuring they have a platform to communicate with government officials and relevant stakeholders to foster change and support.
Targeted Beneficiaries
- Primary Focus: Young people in the Mayuge District, especially those who are most vulnerable and underserved.
- Special Groups:
- Young people living with HIV/AIDS.
- Youth in fish-landing communities (fisher folk).
- Young women involved in commercial sex work.
Impact and Sustainability
With this initiative, Simavi and FLEP aim to sustain and expand the accessibility and quality of SRH services in Mayuge District. By empowering youth and strengthening local health systems, the project ensures a lasting impact that continues to support young people’s SRH needs, especially in hard-to-reach areas.