Background
Ugandan youth face a number of challenges related to their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). The HIV/AIDS prevalence among adolescents in Uganda is estimated at around 2.5%, but higher among girls (2.7%) than boys (1.8%). Low use of contraceptives has led to high teenage pregnancy rates, forcing many girls to drop out of school. There is a need for youth friendly SRHR services in order to help youth in Uganda make informed decisions and lead healthy lives.

About the project
This project was created to promote sexual and reproductive health information and linkages to SRHR services for young people (13-24 years) at Bishop Secondary School in Mukono. The project team worked towards this goal by empowering young people with age appropriate information on sexual and reproductive health, supporting the establishment of linkages to youth friendly services at the health facility and strengthening the school’s existing SRHR clubs.

Results
So far, 922 secondary students have been given sexual and reproductive health information. Five teachers have been trained and sensitized on SRHR and linkages have been established between the school and the health facility in the area. 36 students from six different classes toured the health facility to learn about the youth friendly services offered. By the end of the project, 80 students had accessed the youth friendly services within one month – compared to 0 before the project. Sexual and reproductive health has now been integrated in the school lesson plans and health clubs. The successful collaboration between the school and the health facility will continue going forward, enabling more young people to access the SRHR services and information they need.