COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH SERVICES FOR ADOLESCENT GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN

We implemented the project in the three districts of Kiryandongo, Kamwenge and Tororo. The project utilized the district-led programming and health systems strengthening approaches to implement the following activities:

• Functionalization of the District Integrated Committees for Adolescent Health (DiCAHs)
• Multisectoral planning meetings at national and subnational levels;
• Support to the districts to conduct Joint Multisectoral (DHT, Community and School representatives, Political leadership), technical support, supervision;
• Support to the Government in building the capacity of health workers and AGYW peers through training and mentorship in the provision of GANC/PNC and comprehensive adolescent health services;
• Support to the districts to provide basic social economic strengthening (BSES)- basketry, bakery, bead & jewellery, book making, liquid soap, bar soap to the most at-risk AGYW;
• Support to the Government to scale up the use of the AGYW risk and vulnerability assessment tools to identify vulnerable AGYWs;
• Support to the districts to conduct community engagement meetings/dialogues with AGYW, AYP, parents, caregivers, religious, cultural, traditional leaders, and key community influencers/gatekeepers, including girl/women-centred/led partners and develop action plans;
• Support to the Government to build the capacity of health workers in the management of violence among AGYW using the LIVES (Listen, Inquire, Validate, Enhance Safety for Survivors) approach;
• Support to the Government to conduct community mobilization for adolescent health services, including HPV vaccination for girls & PSEA using community radios, radio talk shows, community leaders and VHTs;
• Support to the Government to conduct integrated community outreaches to provide the minimum HIV prevention package, including HPV plus, to AGYW high burden areas; and
• Support the Government in conducting school outreaches to sensitize and deliver SRH, PSEA, and other adolescent health services, including the HPV+ package & nutrition.

ACHIEVEMENTS

• We functionalized all 3 (100%) District Integrated Committees on Adolescent Health;
• We trained 54/57 (95%) AGYW peers on Integrated adolescent health services.
• 41/53 (77%) of the target health facilities implemented the peer-led adolescent health services;
• Twenty-Five Thousand Nine Hundred Seventy-Three (25.973) AGYW attended Antenatal Care Visit 1, and 99% (25,599) got to know their HIV status;
• We reached 5,317 adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) through 525 groups on the GANC platform. Of these, we screened 3,021 for risk and vulnerability, and identified 1,663 (55%) as being at very high risk of HIV acquisition. These were successfully linked to comprehensive HIV prevention and SRHR services, and we empowered 869 people with soft skills, including baking, craft shoe-making, bag-making, beading, and liquid soap and jelly-making.
• We conducted 112 school-based health outreaches, reaching 102,707 AGYW in schools with information on prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), HIV/AIDS prevention, menstrual hygiene, oral health promotion, and sexual and reproductive health, among others. We provided the schools with IEC materials on selected adolescent growth topics, e.g., puberty, teenage pregnancy and its effects, healthy relationships, and menstrual hygiene.
• Baylor Foundation Uganda integrated PSEA messaging into all its activities and provided IEC materials to all 53 (100%) of the supported health facilities.
• We provided adolescent-friendly materials (indoor and outdoor games such as Ludo board, Snakes & Ladders, Footballs, Netballs, playing cards, plastic, Skipping ropes, Darts, puzzles, Chess) at 27 Sites (10 in Tororo, 8 in Kiryandongo and 9 in Kamwenge); and
• In liaison with the District Community Departments and as part of the partner contribution, Baylor Foundation Uganda provided 80 sewing machines to Kiryandongo and Kamwenge districts (40 each) for AGYWs trained in tailoring.