Funder: Planned Parenthood Global (PPG)
From December 2023 to September 2024, Samasha, with support from Planned Parenthood Global and in collaboration with the Ministry of Health’s Adolescent and School Health Division, addressed teenage pregnancies in Luwero and Kole districts, where 24% of teenage girls in Uganda become pregnant.
Achievements at a glance
Our efforts led to a modest reduction in teenage pregnancies in Luwero, with rates dropping from 16.5% in FY2022/23 to 16.1% in FY2023/24
"I always stayed home during menstruation because of cramps, but after attending a health talk, from Samasha and health workers, I learned to manage the pain and now help peers avoid absenteeism," shared Pretty Nalujja, a student at Little Flowers Primary School.
Despite challenges like delays in approving the District Committee on Adolescent Health (DICAH) guidelines and limited funding, we advocated for increased resources and district budget allocations while fostering community engagement to address stigma and misinformation.
Community involvement proved key, with district leaders, health workers, Village Health Teams, and school administrators driving the project's success. This work has laid a solid foundation for improving adolescent health, and we remain committed to advancing these efforts for Uganda's youth.