To bring health services closer to young people and their communities, Action 4 Health Uganda (A4HU) conducts regular community health outreaches. In collaboration with local health facilities, these events provide essential services to community members, especially the underserved and underprivileged, who previously had limited or no access to healthcare.
On 10th April 2025, an integrated community health outreach was held in Kisamba Village, Ssekanyonyi Sub-county, Mityana District. The goal was to improve access to vital health services in this hard-to-reach area. Participants included youth from Ssekanyonyi and Kikandwa sub-counties, local leaders, school children, and community members.
Health workers from Kasiikombe Health Centre II and Ssekanyonyi Health Centre IV supported the initiative. Mobilization efforts were led by Youth Empowerment Centre (YEC) members, peer facilitators, and Youth-Farmer Field School (YFFS) facilitators. Services offered during the outreach included malaria screening, immunizations (HPV, measles, rubella), family planning, HIV/AIDS testing, and counselling sessions.
One particularly touching moment involved a young woman, Agnes (not her real name)-who confided in A4HU’s Out-of-School Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Officer about her experience living with epilepsy.
She revealed that during seizures, she was vulnerable to sexual abuse, which had resulted in unintended pregnancies. In response, the SRHR Officer provided her with support, counseling, and a long-term family planning method to protect her health and safety. Although Agnes had already begun treatment for epilepsy, she shared the difficulty of accessing the nearest health facility due to transport challenges. The outreach proved to be a blessing for her. While epilepsy medication was not initially available on-site, special arrangements were made to supply her with a two-month supply. She was also connected to a Village Health Team (VHT) member who would assist her in regularly obtaining her medication.
“I am grateful for the counseling I received. I feel more informed and supported,” she said.
This initiative is a firm testament to the importance of bringing health services closer to the underserved or hard-to-reach communities where young people may not have the means to access health care.
