This article was contributed by Reach a Hand, Uganda
It’s a bright afternoon and panelists have already started setting climate for the dialogue. One young person on the panel however, is vividly looking disagreeable and is already having questions to ministry officials present.
“Before we start discussing about the benefits of the policy, we need to first ask ourselves why young people especially adolescents are not aware of the policy which has been in existence for almost five years.” He finally breaks the silence.
The young person’s name is Hamza Businge, a former student leader at Uganda Christian University and currently a peer educator with Reach A Hand, Uganda (RAHU). He is a panelist (and the youngest) at the second Share101 forum organized by RAHU focusing on creating awareness about the Uganda Adolescent Health Policy and tracking its implementation for the last five years ever since it came into place in May 2011.
Hamza who left high school two years ago, states that while at school, he had never heard of the policy being discussed until he joined University. All attributed to the fact that he is a peer educator with RAHU which disseminates reproductive health communication messages to young people.
“We need to start tracking the implementation of the policy and think about how to make it accessible to adolescents both in and out of school beginning with creating awareness about it today which is a fundamental step.” Hamza emphasizes.
The discussion in a country dominated by young people, was crucial. Uganda has a population of 37 million people according to the country’s 2014 Census Report. 78% of these, are young people below the age of 35. This means that 7 out of 10 people you’ll meet are most probably youth.
Breaking it down further, the Adolescent Health Policy states that approximately 52.7% of the population is under 15 years of age. 37.4% of these are young people below the age of 24 and further, 23.3% of these are adolescents (between the ages of 10 to 19). This means that one in every three people is a young person and one in every four people is an adolescent.
The lives of Ugandan adolescents seems to be at crossroads. They face a lot of health challenges mainly lack of access to scientifically accurate, culturally and age-appropriate, and gender-sensitive reproductive and sexuality education and limited access to youth friendly services in health centers across the country which the policy acknowledges.
“The challenges faced by adolescents lead to potentially long lasting health complications for example early marriages and childbirth leading to fistula, STIs/HIV/AIDS infections and psychosocial problems such as substance abuse, delinquency, truancy and sexual abuse.” Alex Kiwanuka from Reproductive Health Uganda contributes from the audience.
As a result, many adolescents are left with no option but to drop out of school and later lead a compromised and vulnerable life as adolescents transcending into adulthood.
“We need to involve young people more to address issues that affect them because they know best what these issues are.” Cynthia Kyofuna, a student at Kyambogo University in Kampala, states while giving a citation of the policy at the forum.
One clear issue which was realized from the dialogue, was that many adolescents in Uganda both in and out of school, are not aware about the policy, it’s importance and how they can be involved in its implementation to help them make informed decisions and choices for their lives which yet according to the discussion, it matters to them..
“One of the things to measure when it comes to implementation, is the way you unpack a policy to be understood by the targeted and intended audience.” Godfrey Walakira from Straight Talk Foundation and also a panelist, advises the audience.
This Share101 meet therefore presented a wonderful opportunity for both government and private sector to mitigate these multiple health challenges and behavioral risks that adolescents face by creating a platform where everyone can contribute to the debate on how to create sustainable partnerships with an aim of improving the lives of adolescents.
"Partnerships are very important when it comes to tracking implementation of policies. Government should recognize the roles which the private sector has to play when it comes to implementation and not always look at them as enemies of progress." Alvin Muhwezi from IN-PACT and also a panelist, emphasizes.
Alvin while stating his call to action encourages implementing partners to stop working in isolation. In his perspective, working in partnership to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal No. 17 on partnerships amongst different organizations is an appreciation that these challenges are cross cutting and need the involvement of all stakeholders.
“It’s about how you create partnerships that will make you achieve your goals better.” Ton Coenen, the Executive Director of Rutgers International says in the final keynote address to the audience. As Coenen states, creating partnerships will enable young people like Hamza access the relevant policies with the help of responsible government departments like health and educations in so that they know how best they can contribute to their own life development..