By Caitlin Beaudry | Development Intern
One of Shanti Uganda's most meaningful partnerships has been with the Programme for Accessible health and Community Education (PACE). PACE is a local Ugandan non-profit, providing reproductive and child health services throughout Uganda.
On Friday, October 21st, several members of Shanti Uganda's staff collaborated with PACE’s village health trainers (VHTs) to provide a family planning outreach day in Luweero town. The outreach was extremely successful, with a total uptake of 86 services, the most ever for a Shanti family planning outreach!
Our midwives were kept busy throughout the day providing birth control implants, IUDs, and contraceptive injections. 46 local women received these family planning services. All acquired detailed information regarding the risks and benefits associated with each method from VHTs Flora and Margaret, ensuring informed consent. Flora and Margaret also sensitively dispelled a great many negative myths around family planning.
In addition to family planning, 39 women were tested for HIV. These outreaches provide a quick and convenient way for women to obtain their HIV status, without having to travel long distances to a clinic. With so many women reached and referring their friends and family, Shanti will be returning to this location in November to continue meeting this community's needs. We expect to reach many more women and their partners during this outreach.
Barriers such as transportation or caring for other children often prevent rural women in our area from coming to our birth house to receive services. Bringing our staff to the community allows us to provide needed care and treatment to many more mothers. These outreaches also allow women in the community to learn more about Shanti Uganda, and the additional services we provide, including vaccinations for pregnant women and children up to age 5, routine laboratory testing for malaria and other common infections, as well as comprehensive perinatal care.
Your support allows us to continue these vital outreaches. Each successful outreach provides an opportunity for our dedicated staff to serve even more members of our district, strengthening the bonds between Shanti Uganda and our community.
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