Voices for Health is a project implemented by a consortium of 4 partners organizations including: Partners in Community Transformation (PICOT), Uganda Health Marketing Group (UHMG), Reach a Hand Uganda (RAHU) and Centre for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD) in partnership with Ministry of Health. It aims to increase the strength and sustainability of Sexual and Reproductive Health advocacy and service delivery programs. PICOT is the implementing partner for West Nile Region and addresses youth engagement and champion building pillars.
Silence Is Deadly Campaign
“Silence is Deadly” is an advocacy campaign under the voices for health project aimed at changing public perceptions about youth and young adolescents’ access to Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services in Uganda. The general attitude is that SRH services are for adults’ only; yet 11.2 million people in Uganda are aged 10-24 years (2014 Census) who face enormous hindrances in attempt to access sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information and services.
A research in the Voices for Health project districts to further understand the barriers to access of SRH services in Uganda among the youth and young adolescents highlighted stigma towards youth and young adults, low social standing and Myths and conceptions about SRH services as the 3 key barriers to access of SRH.
PICOT therefore addresses these barriers through engaging with leaders, community gate keepers and service providers, empowering fellow young people with information on SRH, promoting peer to peer conversation with help of young leaders, engaging wider communities through Games and Sports, radio talk shows programs, digital platforms (social media pages) and documentation of human interest stories to show case, dialogue, sensitize and challenge social norms; reach as many young people as possible especially in the rural areas, increase access to SRH information and services, enable young people to live a more healthy and productive life, fulfill their dreams and in turn alleviate poverty, illiteracy and disease burden.