Young People Make Key Asks at Ahead of National Family Planning Conference

Young people made key demands at pre-youth National Family Planning Conference. The event was organized by young people to engage and capture the voices of adolescents in Kampala suburbs as a build up to the National Family Planning Conference held under the theme: “Youth take charge as drivers of integrated family planning for social economic transformation”

Ten A4HU youth champions were facilitated to lead the event starting with the preparatory meetings with other youth serving organizations. The activities included but were not limited to dialogue and a youth zone with free family planning services.

Among the key asks by the youth were; improving the quality of care for reproductive health services to reduce on facility-based deaths and morbidities with a focus on facility based Maternal and New-born deaths; Revise staffing norms to increase midwives, Anaesthetists and doctors in Health Centre IVs and monitor staff attendance and strengthening the commodity planning and the supply chain management system to reduce on stock-outs of essential medicines and supplies especially for MNCH services.

The conference was attended by the Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs, Hon. Florence Nakiwala, who talked to young people about self-esteem. She said that, “some young people are convinced to think they are useless yet they are just used less.” She said engagements of young people are key in addressing their challenges.

The UNFPA Country Representative, Mr. Alain Sibenaler said “People are at the centre of development. Women rights and gender equality are key to development" He called on boys and men to respect girls and women's rights. He also asked them to dialogue with older generations so as to make informed healthy choices.

Also in attendance were Dr. Livingstone Makanga of Ministry of Health, and Kawempe Division Mayor, Dr. Emmanuel Serujongi, among other government officials.