Train 150 AGYW (10-24 Years) on Menstrual Hygiene

Summary:

The African Child and Youth Development Initiative (ACYDI) in partnership with OVCEG-CSO have co-implemented the Community Led Monitoring (CLM) aimed to enhance HIV prevention efforts in Buvuma district. This inception meeting brings together different stakeholders to introduce the project, discuss its objectives, and outline implementation plans. The CLM activities aim to enhance community engagement in health service delivery by empowering affected populations to monitor, analyze, and advocate for improved HIV, TB, and Malaria services. Through this participatory approach, communities contribute to strengthening quality, access, and accountability in service delivery, supporting the realization of national health priorities. The inception meeting formally introduced the CLM project, shared the implementation roadmap, and discussed the roles of stakeholders in ensuring its success. The inception meeting also served as a platform for dialogue on how CLM activities can align with district health priorities and systems. The meeting was opened by the DHO who acknowledged the relevance of the CLM project in the district and welcomed all the stakeholders for the meeting and encouraged active participation and involvement of all the stakeholders. The meeting began with an opening prayer, and it was closed by the secretary for health. The inception meeting held in Buvuma District marked the official launch of the Community-Led Monitoring (CLM) project aimed at strengthening community participation in monitoring public service delivery

Achievements:

• The inception meeting identified the non-performance key indicators of the CLM project (Nkata health centre III and Lubya Health Center III) which are based in the islands.
• It highlighted the roles of the key stakeholders of the CLM project.
• The 23 duty bearers/stakeholders participated in the meeting and exceeded the number of the targeted (20)
• More AGYW, men, boys and young women participated in the CLM project.

Challenges encountered during implementation:

• Lack of digital cameras to capture photos for documentation.
• Insufficient tablets /laptops while report writing and submission.
• Due to heavy rains, the meeting began late, and the number of participants exceeded the targeted number for the meeting.
• The meeting was shifted to another date which affected the planning of the meeting.
• The inception meeting was transferred from planning unit to the boardroom and this affected participant’s movements.
• Poor lighting in the boardroom where the meeting was conducted and thus affected the quality of pictures that were taken during the meeting.
• Insufficient transport refund given to the participants who were coming from far places in the islands.

Lessons Learnt:

• The stakeholders/duty bearers welcomed the CLM project and DHO promised to support the project during the implementation.
• The secretary for health welcomed the CLM project in Buvuma district and the stakeholders shall support the project.
• The project uses a multi stakeholder approach of involving all the stakeholders at the different levels like districts, affected communities, health facilities, CSOs networks, people living with disabilities, community monitors at the community level, and steering communities from the affected communities.
• The project will be based on qualitative and quantitative data collected by the Monitors.
• There was partnership and collaboration of different stakeholders during the CLM meeting.
• The meeting identified health facilities with poor performing indicators where the CLM project will be implemented. These facilities included Lukale, Buwoya, Busamuzi, Nkata and Lubya health facilities.

Recommendations for performance improvement:

• The meeting recommended that the CLM implementation be in two Buvuma islands/health facilities in Nkata health facility center III, and Lubya health centre III because they are non-preforming as identified by the key stakeholders and biostatistician data during the inception meeting.
• Recommended that the CLM project be implemented in more than 5 health facilities.
• To conduct stakeholder mapping for the affected communities (not diseased specific)
• Conduct stakeholder mapping for the CLM activities representing different communities, for example PLHIV, PWDs, KPs TB networks, CSO networks etc.
• Conduct community dialogues meetings with stakeholders representing affected communities mapped.
• Formation of CLM steering committees.
• The steering committee will be tasked to identify CLM monitors from the affected communities that meet the minimum requirements.
• Identification of the monitors by the steering committee
• Identification and selection of advocates and monitors that will represent the district level, the national level and beyond.
• Conduct orientation of stakeholders to understand their roles in the CLM project