Netherlands, Iceland leave lasting health and gender gains in nine districts
"The programme has achieved its objectives by equipping young people with knowledge about their health and helping them use that information to make informed decisions and protect themselves. We are honoured to be properly concluding it,” Kagurusi said.
(L-R) Bouwe-Jan Smeding, the Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Iceland and Head of Cooperation, Elin Hilwig, the 1st Secretary for Health and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Selma Oskarsdottir, the Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Cooperation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands during the closeout of the event in Mbale district. (Photos by Violet Nabatanzi)
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A six-year programme aimed at improving sexual and reproductive health among adolescents and addressing gender-based violence has left behind strengthened health systems, empowered young people and community structures in nine districts.
The 'Heroes for Gender Transformation Action (Heroes)' programme, was supported by the Government of the Netherlands with Euros 19.7m (sh86.4b) over the past six years.
It worked with local governments and communities to address challenges affecting young people, particularly teenage pregnancies, gender-based violence, child marriages and poor access to sexual and reproductive health services.
The programme strengthened about 65 health facilities in the districts of; Kalangala, Iganga, Mayuge, Budaka, Bukwo, Kween, Namayingo, Mbale, and Bugiri, enabling them to provide better services to young people.
The programme was implemented by Amref Health Africa, a continental health advocacy organisation; Mifumi, a women's rights agency; and Cordaid, a Dutch relief aid organisation.
Speaking during the programme's close-out event at Bukiende HCIII in Mbale district on September 3, Dr Patrick Kagurusi, the Country Manager, Amref Health Africa-Uganda chapter, said the investment had contributed to measurable changes in communities.
Kagurusi noted that the programme has also strengthened local ownership of interventions designed to protect young people.
Dr Patrick Kagurusi the Country Manager Amref Health Africa Uganda speaking. 
Beyond the health facilities, Kagurusi said the programme worked with local governments and communities to identify areas affected by gender-based violence and establish mechanisms to respond to cases.
‘’Through these efforts, about 450 gender-based violence cases were identified and referred for prosecution, enabling survivors, particularly girls, to pursue and get justice,” Kagurusi said.
He said all nine participating districts had developed sustainability plans to ensure that the interventions continue beyond external project funding.
The districts have also integrated some of the interventions into their development plans and annual work plans, including allocations to support adolescent health and efforts to address gender-based violence.
The Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Cooperation at the Netherlands Embassy, Bouwe-Jan Smeding, said; “we are convinced that this money has been spent for the right cause, and whatever we worked upon really made a remarkable change in the community."
Smeding said the Netherlands has continued to support Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights initiatives.
Iceland joins investment
The Government of Iceland also supported the programme, with a $3m (sh11.3b) top-up after joining the initiative.
Selma Oskarsdottir, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Iceland and Head of Cooperation, said Iceland would continue supporting communities in Uganda through its district approach, including through collaboration with other development partners such as UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund).
Govt pledges to protect the gains
Dr Richard Mugahi, Commissioner for Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health at the Ministry of Health, said the programme responded to challenges that varied from one district to another.
Among the challenges, Mugahi noted, were teenage pregnancies, incest, child marriages and other harmful cultural practices.
In some areas, including Bukwo district, he said communities also faced female genital mutilation, while the vulnerability of girls remained a major concern in places such as Kalangala.
Mugahi said early pregnancies cause school dropouts and expose girls to health complications, including HIV, and reduce their economic opportunities later in life.
“When we have young people, especially the girls, getting pregnant at early ages, there are complications associated with early pregnancies,” he said.
Mugahi said for government, the next phase is to protect these gains by integrating the structures created through the Heroes programme into existing government systems.
He said the ministry of health would work with the ministry of Education and Sports and Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development to support structures established under the programme.
“We are going to support the structures that have been established under this project,” he said.
The Government also plans to strengthen these efforts at parish level through the social services committees under the Parish Development Model (PDM) to ensure that community structures remain functional.
The goal, Mugahi said, is to sustain the progress made in the nine districts, reduce teenage pregnancies and gender-based violence, while keeping young people in school.