Nantongo Bashira, an adolescent girl peer mentor speaking during the camp.
In a bid to increase access and use of quality, inclusive and integrated Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights- SRHR and HIV services among vulnerable and young people living in the slums of Kawempe, AFFCAD, in partnership with Alive Medical Services, held an SRHR outreach on 19th August 2022 at Growers Play Ground in Bwaise.
Young people in Uganda face various sexual and reproductive health risks, especially those living in urban slums. Experience over the past decade has demonstrated how to address HIV among young people, including slums; programs and resources must focus on adolescents and youth who engage in risky behaviors.
The outreach focused on areas of Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH), HIV prevention and Gender Based Violence (GBV) prevention targeting vulnerable youth, street children, teenage mothers, Orphans, Slum dwellers, YPLHIV, among others aged 10-14 years, 15-19 years, and 20-24 years.
We managed to reach out to seventy five youth; thirty four males and forty one females, with information on SRHR, family planning services, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) and HIV screening and treatment for those that needed the treatment.
"As youth we are usually shy about going to health facilities to access SRHR services, but when these services are brought closer to us, we are able to get the service easily," Naklyango Mary, a resident of Nabukalu Zone in Bwaise, expressed.
Outreaches like these ensure that the youth are able to access SRHR services as they are more susceptible to STIs, HIV and GBV and ensure that they are living healthy lives.
