By Our Reporter
Reach A Hand, Uganda (RAHU) in partnership with CiplaQCIL joined young people in the Acholi Quarters, a slum settlement in Kampala to celebrate Valentine’s Day with an integrated community health outreach and a #SafeLove concert.
This Valentine’s Day activation provided an opportunity to reach young people in this low-income slum with the much-needed sexual reproductive health information and services. The day’s activities focused on social behavioural change and creating HIV/AIDS awareness — emphasizing safe sexual behaviour, the role of young men in keeping their partners safe, and the importance of knowing one’s HIV status.
Speaking at the integrated community health outreach, James Tumusiime, the Country Director RAHU, highlighted the fact that young people living in slums are often left behind when it comes to access to sexual reproductive health information and services.
“Youth living in slums are at a heightened risk for poor sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes yet they are often left behind. Their limited access to income also means that they may not be able to access these health services and information,” Tumusiime said. “This community health outreach and music concert has given us an opportunity to celebrate Valentine’s Day with young people who can’t afford lavish celebrations, while at the same time giving them access to the much needed Sexual Reproductive Health (SRHR) information and services.”
Since the emergence of COVID-19 in Uganda, healthcare suffered severely, specifically, young people’s access to Sexual Reproductive Health related information and services. With this Valentine’s Day activation, RAHU and CiplaQCIL joined hands to bridge this gap. The day’s events culminated with music performances from RAHU’s cultural icons, laced with messages on safe sexual behaviour and HIV/AIDS awareness.
Commenting on the activation, Ajay Kumar CiplaQCIL CEO said: “We are happy to join this campaign that allows us to care for multiple lives and leave a worthwhile impact on this community. At CiplaQCIL, we manufacture medicines to treat HIV/AIDS, malaria and Hepatitis B. However, we are not mere manufacturers of medication. We believe in making people better and saving lives. “Caring For Life” is our guiding thought. What better way is there to show love and care for life than the promotion of good health practices.”