Great News: Gobal Youth Foundation Launches USD 10,000 To Support Community In Agweng & Ogur On Sexual Reproductive and Health Rights ( SRHR)

Lira District, Uganda– Global Youth Foundation (GYF), a community-based organization operating in Lira District, has launched a 12-month Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) advocacy project worth USD 10,000 to improve access to health information and services among young people and women in Agweng and Ogur Town Councils.

The project is funded by the Centre for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD) with support from Amplify Change, an international organization that supports grassroots initiatives promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights across Africa and other developing regions.

The launch ceremony, attended by local leaders, community members, health workers, and youth representatives, highlighted the urgent need to address persistent challenges affecting reproductive health services in the two town councils.

Speaking during the launch, the Mayor of Agweng Town Council, Hon. Richard Ogwang, applauded Global Youth Foundation for selecting Agweng as one of the beneficiary areas.

He described Agweng as a "hotspot" for sexual and reproductive health challenges, citing inadequate health infrastructure and limited access to quality health services.

"Despite having five wards, Agweng Town Council has only one health centre that serves a rapidly growing population. Much of the healthcare support depends on the efforts of Village Health Teams (VHTs), leaving many residents, especially women, adolescent girls, and young people, underserved," Ogwang said.

He noted that limited access to reproductive health information has contributed to challenges such as teenage pregnancies, early marriages, gender-based violence, and preventable maternal health complications.

The Deputy Mayor of Ogur Town Council, Ms. Madoline Okwir, who represented the Mayor, echoed similar concerns and pledged the council's full support toward successful implementation of the project.

"As community leaders, we are grateful to our development partners for investing in the wellbeing of our people. Health is wealth, and we cannot work alone. We need collective efforts from local leaders, health workers, parents, and young people to ensure sexual and reproductive health rights are realized in Agweng and Ogur," Okwir said.

She emphasized that empowering young people with accurate information and access to services would help them make informed decisions and contribute positively to community development.

Addressing participants at the launch, the Project Manager of Global Youth Foundation, Mr. Denis Okwir, thanked local leaders and stakeholders for their commitment to improving community health outcomes.

He explained that the project will run for 12 months and focus on strengthening community awareness, advocacy, and accountability around sexual and reproductive health rights.

"This project is intended to directly benefit young people, women, and vulnerable groups by increasing awareness of their rights and improving access to quality health services. We believe informed communities are better positioned to demand and utilize essential health services," Okwir said.

According to Okwir, key project activities will include training Village Health Teams (VHTs), conducting youth awareness campaigns, engaging community leaders on policy advocacy, organizing community dialogues, and advocating for improved health infrastructure and service delivery.

The project will also promote meaningful youth participation in decision-making processes affecting their health and wellbeing, while strengthening collaboration between communities, local governments, and health service providers.

Health experts have long identified sexual and reproductive health and rights as a critical component of sustainable development. SRHR encompasses the right of every individual to make informed decisions about their body, sexuality, and reproduction without discrimination, coercion, or violence. It also includes access to quality healthcare services, family planning information, maternal health services, and protection from harmful practices.

Community members who attended the launch welcomed the initiative, expressing hope that it would help reduce cases of teenage pregnancy, school dropout rates among girls, and other reproductive health challenges affecting the district.

As the project begins implementation, stakeholders say it represents an important step toward empowering communities, improving health outcomes, and ensuring that women and young people in Agweng and Ogur can fully realize their sexual and reproductive health rights.

The initiative is expected to benefit hundreds of young people and women across the two town councils while contributing to broader efforts to strengthen community health systems and promote social justice in Lira District.