UNITED NATIONS POPULATION FUND LAUNCHES PROJECT TO AID FIGHT AGAINST GBV AND INCREASE ACCESS TO SEXUAL REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES

By Godwin Abedican

Arua

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has launched a project with funding from the Japanese government through the government of Uganda to be used as a tool to address the rising cases of Gender Based Violence (GBV) and challenges of access to sexual reproductive health services among refugees and host communities.

To be implemented in Terego and Madi Okollo districts, the Delivering Lifesaving and Integrated Sexual and reproductive health rights and gender-based violence intervention In Emergencies (DELISIE) focuses on terms or access to sexual reproductive health, prevention of GBV and response services and building resilient health care systems among the refugees and host communities

Danstan Ddamulira Paul, the deputy country director ACORD Uganda, the main implementing partner of the project says given the refugee challenges more of such projects need to be factored in. “It was primarily a deliberate move that was inspired by our passion and desire to improve conditions for persons of concern and host communities. It’s a key strategy that the project will bring a reduction mainly in maternal death as well as a reduction in GBV prevalence among refugees and persons affected by disaster in those target areas,” he said.

Wilfred Saka, the District Chairperson Terego says, the rightful implementation of this project has all the potential to reverse the trends of challenges of reproductive health services and GBV “The design of the project gives me hope that, the red lines in our presentations in our slides that we always have will start reducing,” Saka said.

Paul Kenya, the UN area coordinator lead for Arua Area office admits challenges of these services among the refugees given the ever-increasing number of refugees “We are still receiving people in Uganda in the settlements. This will help us to deliver services to the persons of concern and it gives us a momentum with other refugee agencies to continue working together,” Kenya mentioned.

According to Gift Malunga, UNFPA country representative Uganda, there should be efforts towards seeing impacts of such projects as the government and partners continue to support the community. “We also have to look at how our policies for prevention of teenage and adolescent pregnancies are placed. We are confident that with the continuous support from the government of japan and with the strong partnership between UNFPA and Uganda, including our sister agencies like UNHCR, ACORD and many others, the DELISIE program will have a great impact in the lives of countless women and those in the community.  “If what we do doesn’t make a difference among the people we are serving, then it is useless.  We want to have an impact in the lives of people we are serving, so that together we can build a world where everyone has access to sexual and reproductive health services and I reaffirm UNFPA’s commitment to reaching the most vulnerable while leaving no one behind,” she committed.

H.E Sasayama Takuya, the Japanese Ambassador to Uganda, recommends that creating peace of mind among the refugees is key for the success of such projects. “What really we want to deliver is not the money. Without passion, endeavors and corporation, in a sense, money is nothing.  Rather we want to provide the safety, peace in mind and wellbeing for the people facing challenge and that is what we are looking forward to,” Takuya said.

The 1 million US dollars Delivering lifesaving and integrated sexual and reproductive health rights and Gender Based Violence intervention in emergencies DELISIE project will run for a period of 2 years.

COVER PHOTO: Stake holdres join H.E Sasayama Takuya, the Japanese Ambassador to Uganda in a group photo after the project launch By Godwin Abedican