The Impact of the SAY Programme.
Clients attending a counselling session to understand the different family planning methods at Alere HCII
Humanitarian crises deepen the barriers women face in accessing reproductive health services, reinforcing a fundamental truth: every woman deserves the right to manage her reproductive health. As Africa’s largest refugee-hosting country and one of the top globally, Uganda shelters over 1.8 million refugees, with more than 907,000 residing in these targeted districts. Many displaced populations struggle to access quality reproductive healthcare, making the SAY Programme a critical intervention in ensuring that women and girls receive the care they need despite the challenges of displacement.
The Strengthening Adolescents and Youth Rights and Empowerment (SAY) Programme, generously funded by the Danish government in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), is expanding access to essential maternal and reproductive healthcare across West Nile and Acholi, reaching communities in Obongi, Moyo, Adjumani, Lamwo, and Kitgum.
In humanitarian settings, when health systems are stretched thin and access to essential services is disrupted, women’s reproductive health must remain a priority. Family planning is a lifeline that empowers women and girls to make informed choices about their futures, ensuring healthier families and stronger communities, even in the face of crisis.
Through a consortium partnership with Marie Stopes Uganda (MSUG), CARE International, Naguru Teenage Information and Health Centre, and government agencies, the SAY Programme is bridging critical gaps in reproductive health services. It is not only improving service delivery but also building trust between healthcare providers and the communities they serve.
The SAY Programme is not only improving service delivery but also building trust between providers and the people they serve by mentoring health workers with competency-based skills and engaging communities through Social and Behavioural Change Communication (SBCC) initiatives.
A voice from the Community
Rose Drazu, a mother living in the IDP community, shared her experience:
“This program has changed my life. I used to fear seeking family planning services because of myths and misinformation, but the community dialogues opened my eyes. I was referred to a health worker who treated me respectfully. Now, I can plan my family and give my children a brighter future.”
MSUG’s Impact So Far
- We have mentored over 203 health workers in public and private facilities to offer a full range of family planning options, especially in smaller health centers (HCII/HCIII).
- We trained health workers in 29 public health centers to provide quality family planning counseling, post-abortion care, and postpartum family planning.
- We trained 329 health workers on improving maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health (RMNCAH) services using quality improvement methods.
- Regarding medical supplies management, 240 health workers received training in managing essential maternal, newborn, and child health (RMNCAH+N) supplies to prevent shortages.
- We printed and shared 250 copies of the updated maternal and newborn care guidelines with healthcare providers, ensuring they’re up-to-date with the latest clinical guidelines.
The SAY Programme exemplifies how donor-funded initiatives can create lasting change by equipping health workers with advanced skills, engaging communities to address behavioral barriers, and creating partnerships with district and national stakeholders.
Access to reproductive healthcare should not be an afterthought in times of crisis, it must be a priority. Through collaboration, innovation, and commitment, we can ensure that every woman and girl, regardless of circumstance, has the power to make informed choices about her health and future.
A set up of an Outreach Clinic in the Alere Refugee Settlement
