Action 4 Health Uganda joined partners in Butambala District to celebrate World Contraceptive Day under the theme “Your Choice, Your Future” at Gombe Senior Secondary School Playgrounds. The function started with a parade comprising Gombe Referral Hospital nursing school students.
Butambala District, as reported by the District Health Officer (DHO) Mr. Ssekamatte Samuel, has a youthful population of 43% out of a total district population of 146,000 as of the 2024 National Housing and Population Census. The district has 24 health facilities, but it does not have a regional referral hospital. Out of these, 12 are at Health Centre III (level three) and the others at Health Centre II (level two). Most of the work is supported by the Ministry of Health and its partners. Thanks to financial support from the government, one of the significant achievements has been the renovation of the hospital, which also included the construction of an independent maternal and child health block where family planning services are provided. This has led to an increase in primary health care.
ON FAMILY PLANNING
In Butambala District, there has been a significant surge in the utilization of family planning services, with the number of users increasing from 9,556 in 2020 to 24,000 in 2023. This upward trend is expected to continue through the end of 2024. The notable increase in users indicates a positive and encouraging response to family planning services, showcasing the effectiveness of the support provided by the government of Uganda through the Ministry of Health and its collaborative partners.
STRATEGIES TAKEN TO INCREASE FAMILY PLANNING UPTAKE IN BUTAMBALA DISTRICT
The district has adopted a comprehensive approach to improve the accessibility of family planning services by ensuring they are easily available within the communities. This strategy involves actively engaging religious, cultural, and political leaders to dispel any misconceptions and myths surrounding family planning. At present, there are 70 Village Health Trainers (VHTs) operating in the district, and the involvement of drug shops has also been instrumental. These VHTs and drug shops play a crucial role in bridging the gap in access to family planning services by delivering them directly to the doorsteps of the community members.
CHALLENGES
The district faces the challenge of teenage pregnancy due to the misconceptions and ignorance around family planning, which has contributed to school dropouts.
Low staffing rates at the hospital, which is currently at 39.6%
Congestion: the congestion at Gombe Hospital can be attributed to its role as the primary healthcare facility for the Gombe district and neighboring districts such as Mpigi and Wakiso. The recent construction of a new road has further increased the number of patients seeking medical care at the hospital. In light of this situation, the District Health Officer (DHO) has formally requested the Ministry of Health to elevate Gombe Hospital’s status to that of a regional referral hospital due to its vital role in providing healthcare services to the entire region.
COMMUNITY HEALTH OUTREACH AND MOBILIZATION
Before the event, Action 4 Health Uganda carried out a mobilization drive to create awareness of the upcoming event and share information on the use of contraceptives or family planning methods, their varieties, and their advantages. Condoms and femidoms were distributed to the community members, and demonstrations of their usage were also conducted.
VOICES FROM THE COMMUNITY
“I don’t use condoms because I rarely have sex. When I am to have sex, I make sure first to do blood tests with my partner. I have never bought condoms nor seen how they are used.” shared a male community member.
“I have benefited from Family Planning. I have four children, and I was able to space them thanks to the injectable that I chose to help me plan my childbearing. However, I have learned that one needs to have a clear understanding of family planning methods. I once forgot to go back to the hospital for review and got pregnant with my current child, yet the one I had at the time was not yet a year old. Now that I understand the methods better, I urge my fellow parents also to be aware of the available family planning methods and how they are used. They should also speak up when they have side effects, ” shared Namukwaya Alice, mother of four and a Gombe, Butambala District resident.
