SEXUAL REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH RIGHTS
A number of activities are conducted and these include;
- Training Reflection Action facilitators in SRHR,
- conduction of community outreaches for awareness raising on HIV/AIDS and Maternal Health,
- conduction of HIV Counselling
- Testing and supporting in out of school youth and women with tailoring and knitting skills.
Training in Reproductive SRHR and Reflection Action Methodology
The Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) training is conducted by MAWDA with the aim of strengthening the capacity of Reflection Action Facilitators in handling issues of Sexual Reproductive Health Rights at community or village level.
The participants belong to the Reflection Action groups formed by MAWDA under the unpaid care work project and these are from the 3 parishes of Kawempe i.e Makerere II (Kikoni), Makerere III (Kalerwe) and Wandegeya (Katanga). The community members acquire knowledge and skills in handling issues of SRHR. The training majorly focuses on these areas that is; Sexual Transmitted Diseases (HIV/AIDS), Family planning, maternal health and Reflection Action methodology.
By the end of the training, the participants are able to demonstrate the trends of HIV/AIDS in Uganda, the current HIV status and the current HIV preventive methods. The participants also get skills in the different methods of family planning and where the community members can easily be referred for these services. Finally, participants are given different techniques in Reflection Action methodology which can help them in facilitating their respective groups.
Conduction of Community outreaches
MAWDA conducts community outreaches home visits and group talks/ community dialogues. These outreaches are conducted specifically in the parishes of Makerere II and Wandegeya. The outreaches are conducted by a team of MAWDA Reflection Action groups’ facilitators under the supervision of the programme officer MAWDA and the volunteers’ supervisor. The outreaches majorly focus on disseminating messages on SRHR, where sensitization on STDs/STIs, family planning and maternal health are emphasized.
In addition to the joint community outreaches, the Reflection Action groups facilitators conduct sessions of sensitizing their group members on Family planning, HIV/AIDS and maternal health in general. This is done with the aim of making sure that the Reflection Action group members get enough knowledge in family planning, HIV/AIDS so that they can be able to make informed decision on their Sexual Reproductive Health and sensitize other community members. As a result of conducting these community outreaches a number of community members have been referred to health centres to seek for comprehensive medical attention.
Supporting Positive Living Clients
In addition to the regular community outreaches for dissemination of the HIV/AIDS prevention messages within the communities of Kawempe Urban Municipal council, MAWDA volunteers also do a lot of physical support to the most vulnerable HIV positive living clients in Makerere II, Makerere III and Wandegeya parishes. These clients are given support in form of nursing them, washing their clothes and cleaning them.