Wakiso, Uganda. The Centre for health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD) has today formalised its working relationship with Community Health Advocates (CHAs) from five districts of Kyankwanzi, Gomba, Kiboga, Buikwe and Wakiso. The CHAs will contribute to achieving the goal of the Joint Advocacy for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Uganda (JAS) Programme. The goal of the JAS Programme is to build a progressive social movement, boldly challenging the deep structures affecting the realisation of SRHR in Uganda.
Through its Community Empowerment Program (CEP), CEHURD has continuously worked towards building locally driven initiatives to achieve the right to health. This has been done by establishing advocates at the community level, which result in collaborations at district and lower levels. These collaborations lead to effective championing of health and human rights advocacy.
The CHA District Associations were identified following organisational capacity assessment (OCA) conducted last year. The CHAs include individuals and groups of grassroots-based advocates that CEHURD has trained. The organization also supports the CHAS to work in their communities as volunteers to promote the right to health at district level.
CEHURD has formalised the relationship by signing sub-grant agreements with the CHAs to enable effective implementation of the JAS programme. The CHAs also received motorcycles to ease their work within the communities.
About the JAS Programme
The Joint Advocacy for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Uganda (JAS) Programme is a five-year programme being implemented with support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). The programme aims at building a progressive Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) advocacy movement in Uganda.
CEHURD is the hosting Secretariat working with six national partners, which include Akina Mama wa Afrika, The Coalition for Health Promotion and Social Development (HEPS Uganda), Human Rights Awareness Promotion Forum (HRAPF), National Forum for People Living with HIV/Aids in Uganda (NAFOPHANU), Reach A Hand Uganda (RAHU), and Uganda Network of Sex Worker led Organizations (UNESO), and the CHAs at district level. Implementation is taking place under seven thematic areas including; HIV/AIDS; Maternal Health; Adolescents and Young People; Gender and Women; Sex Work; Refugees, Sexual and Gender Minorities; and Access to Medicines and Commodities.
For more information contact Grace Kenganzi 0778723449 or email info@cehurd.org and copy kenganzi@cehurd.org