Action 4 Health Uganda Convenes Family Planning Advocacy Group Coordination Meeting

Action for Health Uganda (A4HU) and National Population Council (NPC) convened the quarterly Family Planning Advocacy Group (FPBAG) coordination meeting at Fairway Hotel, Kampala on August 28, 2019. A4HU, an affiliate to DSW, a youth empowerment organization dedicated to mainstreaming young peoples’ engagement in socio-economic development and promoting Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH).

FPBAG is a network of FP stakeholders from line Ministries, Departments and Agencies and Civil society. The network advocates for improved SRH/FP policies, more FP budgetary allocations by both national and sub national governments, more efficient use of the available resources and improved transparency and accountability for FP resources.

The meeting attended by 46 participants representing 17 partner organisations aimed at; taking stock of implementation of family planning interventions, a platform for CSOs to share their achievements over the last quarter, work plans, challenges and recommendations for advancing the Family planning agenda in Uganda. Highlights of the health budget 2019/20 with specific interest in FP budget and its implication to FP programme implementation was also shared. The meeting was also used to share roadmap to the ICPD@25 and launching of the EU fact sheet titled “Investing in Adolescent Health SRH to harness the Demographic Dividend.”

In his opening remarks, Mr. Zirarema Charles, Deputy Director General National Population Council appreciated A4HU for bringing partners to discuss issues concerning family planning. He noted that not so many sectors take note of family planning in their work plans yet it is a key accelerator to reducing fertility and achievement of socio-economic development for both individuals and the country at large.

Mr. Zirarema said that because of the efforts of the different partners, district local governments have begun integrating family planning in their budgets which he noted is a step in the right direction.

Mr. Kabagambe Richard, Assistant Commissioner, planning at Ministry of Health later shared the highlights of the health budget 2019/20 with specific interest in FP budget.

In his closing remarks, Dr. Tusiime Bernard, the A4HU Chief Executive Officer extended a vote of thanks to National Population Council for taking lead in bring FP partners together. “Coordination and partnership is the way to go if we are to achieve maximum impact. As CSOs, we are not in competition with each other.”