The Youth Truck embarked on a brave journey across the seemingly calm waters of Lake Victoria, using a makeshift ferry to reach Bussi Island. This tranquil island is nestled on the outskirts of Wakiso District, approximately eight kilometers from Entebbe. Bussi Island is home to a population of 36,000, predominantly consisting of young individuals aged 30 years and below.
The island is served by a single government health facility and is surrounded by neighboring islands such as Zzinga, Kachanga, and Kituufu, all reliant on the same health facility for medical services. However, this facility encounters challenges such as frequent drug stock-outs, leading to the occasional referral of pregnant mothers to Entebbe Grade B Hospital for higher levels of care.
One significant issue faced by the community on Bussi Island is the lack of reliable transportation, particularly for vulnerable women and young girls needing to travel to seek medical care. This transportation dilemma has tragically resulted in unnecessary loss of life during these journeys.
Dr. Fred Wandera, the In-Charge of Bussi Health Centre III, says that young people start engaging in sexual intercourse as early as age eight!
It is such realities that drove us from the mainland onto this island to create awareness about sexual reproductive health and rights for the youth of Bussi Island. Mr. Kafeero Reuben, the Local Council Chairman of Bussi Island, shared some of the locals’ challenges. These include poor quality of transport means, where a wooden ferry and boats are used to transport people from one landing site to another, high maternal death rates due to lack of efficient transport means to Entebbe Grade B Hospital, where pregnant women are referred for further attention, inadequate medical supplies and personnel.
The Youth Truck team began by touring various locations on the island, including the Kinywante landing site, Gulwe landing site, Mabamba landing site, Nakusaza, Kaziba village, Seeta, Bwayiise, Mukono, Kisaba, Gombe, Jjali, and Bugera. They distributed condoms and femidoms, demonstrated their use, and shared age-appropriate information on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) using the truck’s public address system.
On the next day, 21st June 2024, an SRHR-themed Sports Gala was held at Kaziba Playground, where the youth played football and netball games on the island. The winners of each game went home with a goat to celebrate. During the game breaks, peer educators conducted cascading learning sessions where various age-appropriate topics were discussed, such as condom and femidom use, family planning, HIV/AIDS prevention, and so much more. As the games went on, health workers from Bussi Health Centre III provided health services to the youth present and other community members. These included HIV testing and counseling, malaria testing and treatment, and others.
Health workers from Bussi Health Centre III offered health services to the youth during the SRHR-themed Sports Gala at Kaziba Playground, Bussi Island.
Onyango Harrison, a lab technician with Bussi Health Centre III, remarked, “Bussi Island is a hard-to-reach area, but A4HU was able to get here, and this shows what a great heart they have. As we provided different health services, some youths were afraid, nervous, and ignorant about their health, especially their HIV status. The outreach helped them allay these fears. Bringing these services closer to the youth helps bridge the access gap that may as well be brought about by fear of going to the health facility for medical attention. The youth have been receptive to the services given, and appreciation goes to A4HU for making this possible through the Youth Truck.”
Nalugemwa Rachel, a netball player from Bussi Seed Secondary School, shared her experience, “Peer educators sat down with us during the game breaks and taught us about the dangers of acquiring HIV/AIDS. I have learned that I do not have to engage in sex at my age or join bad peer groups so that my life is safe as a young girl.”
Ddembe Emmanuel, a football player from Bussi Secondary School, also shared his experience, “It has been an interesting day. We have learned during the peer learning sessions how to protect ourselves from HIV using various methods like abstinence, which is best for us as students. Action 4 Health Uganda should add more effort in sensitizing the people of Bussi Island and the country at large on how to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. Their activities here have not only been for the improvement of our health but also the uplifting of our talents.”
Implementing such activities is one way through which Action 4 Health Uganda bridges the gap of access to sexual reproductive health and rights information and services among young people in hard-to-reach areas such as Bussi Island. Action 4 Health Uganda is committed to ensuring that young people realize their full potential.
