UN envoy tips Uganda: Make health services user friendly to youth

By Billy Rwothungeyo    
            
Ahmad Alhendawi, the United Nations Secretary-General's envoy on youth has advised Uganda to make health services more user-friendly and accessible to young people.

 “Young people may need services that are slightly different from what other age groups demand. For example, if a young person wants to have an HIV test, they will not walk into the clinic with their uncle or father, they want a bit of privacy,” he said.

Speaking yesterday at the opening of a hackathon for youth organized by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Kampala, he said more should be done to drive demand for health services among the young people.

 “Even if you have the services, if people do not know that you have them, then you have not done much,” he said.

“Sometimes you offer services, but people do not come for them. Not that they do not need them, this morning, I visited the Naguru Teenage Center which offers great services for young people, I asked the people around about how many of their friends know about the services, only a few.”

Chris Baryomunsi, the Minister of State for Health said with more investment into the young people, Uganda can reap from the demographic dividend.

“Realising the potential of young people, implores us not only to rely on traditional methods of responding to the needs of young people, but to also explore innovative ways to support them and overcome the obstacles that might hinder them from harnessing their full potential.”

A hackathon is a coding event which unites innovators, programmers and developers, designers and experts to come up with web and or mobile app solutions to solve particular problems.
 
The gathering encourages participants to think outside-the-box and design unconventional solutions to promote young people’s sexual and reproductive health.

The hackathon ends today with the judges selecting the best apps among those that have been showcased.