By Patrick Opio
Senior Communications Officer, Lira University
The Principal Investigator (PI), Assoc. Prof. Dr, Omech Bernard has praised the Project Implementation Committee (PIC) of the ‘Enhancing Integration of Adolescent Family Planning and Post-Abortion Care in Northern Uganda: A Citizen Science, Gender-Transformative Approach (CAFFP-PAC) Project, for being effective, transparent and accountable in the implementation of the planned activities in the first six months ending.
While addressing the PIC meeting at Gracious Palace Hotel, Lira City on 24th June 2025, Prof. Omech, also the Director Graduate Training and Research studies at Lira university, said that the project, sponsored by the Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) is set to provide a turning point for health workers and leaders in the region.
Prof. Omech further explained that early pregnancies, a practice common in Lango sub-region and Uganda as a whole, often disrupt education and limit future opportunities, perpetuating cycles of poverty and inequality.
He added that a team of skilled persons have already been deployed in the field, collecting data as they engage the communities in selected subcounities of Lira District.
“We are working as a strong team in the fight against early pregnancies and post abortion management issues. We hope the project data and findings we shall share will help leaders and other stakeholders in policy decision making process to avert the current trend of unintended pregnancies among young girls,” Dr. Omech asserts.
He further noted that the project targets enhancement of adolescent sexual and reproductive health (SRH) in Northern Uganda, with a focus on Lira District
Prof. Omech reveals that the targeted adolescence age bracket (10-19) is a risky period because of the profound physical, psychological, and social changes that occur during this stage of development.
Prof. Omech notes that Implementation Science Approach is being used as Citizen-Science Model involving adolescents, parents/caregivers, healthcare providers, and community leaders in co-designing interventions.
On the project implementation progress for the first six months, Dr. Samson Udho, the Project’s Co-Investigator and Senior Lecturer, explained that at least 99% of the activities were already achieved. “Our prayer and hope is to spend all the money by close of this month ending,” Dr. Udho asserts as he presents the implementation report during the meeting.
The implemented activities include trainings, holding stakeholders’ meetings of different categories, recruitments of staff, procurement of equipment and deployment of Citizen scientists in subcounties for community engagements, among others.
COMMUNICATION FROM THE GENDER EXPERT
Assoc. Prof. Judith Abal Akello, also Dean Faculty of Management Sciences, Lira University
We are now in Phase 2 – the data collection phase, and this marks a defining moment in our journey. The information we gather will shape how we understand adolescent experiences and needs – particularly those of girls and young women, who are at the centre of this initiative.
1. Reflections on Gender Integration in Phase 1-Allow me to begin by appreciating the solid foundation laid in Phase 1. We made deliberate efforts to:
- Prioritise adolescent-friendly and gender-sensitive approaches in designing our tools and strategies.
- Engage both male and female stakeholders, service providers, and community leaders in preparatory activities.
- Position gender not as an “add-on,” but as a core principle in our vision of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).
2. Phase 2: Gender Lens in Data Collection-ON GOING-As we now move deeper into field activities, I wish to underscore several key gender-related considerations guiding the data collection process:
- Ensure inclusivity: Our data must reflect the diversity of adolescent experiences -girls, boys, young mothers, school dropouts, those in rural areas, and even adolescents with disabilities.
- Capture gendered power dynamics: Ask the hard questions. What shapes a girl’s ability to say “no”? Who controls decisions about her body? Who supports or silences her?
- Maintain confidentiality and safety: Adolescents may share sensitive or traumatic experiences, especially around post-abortion care and GBV. Ethical safeguards must be strictly followed.
- Use female data collectors for sensitive interviews with adolescent girls – this helps improve trust and openness.
3. Plan for Gender-Responsive Data Analysis-As we prepare for data analysis, I recommend the following gender-responsive actions-Analysed Data to be reviewed by Gender Expert:
- Disaggregate all data by sex, age group, location, and vulnerability status (e.g., in-school vs out-of-school, married vs unmarried).
- Analyse qualitative data to surface patterns in gender-based stigma, access barriers, provider attitudes, and unmet needs.
- Triangulate findings with service delivery data from health centres to identify where gender gaps persist in access to FP and PAC services.
The goal is not just to present numbers, but to tell the story behind the numbers – especially the story of the adolescent girl who is often invisible in traditional data systems.
4. Community Engagement
Gender-responsive dissemination must ensure that:
- Findings reach different audiences in ways that are accessible and meaningful- policy briefs for decision makers, community dialogues for local leaders, youth-friendly formats for adolescents.
- Stakeholder feedback is not just received, but integrated- especially from girls themselves, teachers, health workers, and parents.
- We centre the lived experiences of adolescents in our messaging. Let the data amplify their voices.
Let us remember: Dissemination is not the end; it is the start of dialogue, advocacy, and accountability.
5. Ongoing Gender Advocacy and Guidance-As we move forward, I will continue to:
- Provide technical guidance on ensuring gender equity remains central in our interventions.
- Support capacity building for project teams and partners to understand and apply gender-transformative principles.
- Advocate for policy and practice shifts that reduce gender disparities in SRHR access for adolescents.
I also propose convening a gender learning session during the next quarter, where we can share experiences from the field, identify persistent gaps, and co-create solutions.
6. Call to Action: Colleagues, if we are to change the trajectory of teenage pregnancy and unsafe abortion in Lira, we must be bold in challenging the status quo.
Let us remain intentional and consistent in:
- Listening to girls’ and boys’ perspectives.
- Designing programmes that address root causes, not just symptoms.
- Using evidence to push for transformative gender norms that promote health, choice, and dignity.
Key components of CAFFP-PAC include providing age-appropriate education on sexual health, reproductive rights, and family planning options, establishing youth-friendly clinics offering confidential, non-judgmental services tailored to adolescents and conducting sensitization campaigns to reduce stigma and improve knowledge of available services.
Others are safe, compassionate post-abortion care including counseling, medical support, and family planning options, access to trained counselors to support informed decision-making on sexual and reproductive health and educating parents on adolescent reproductive health to encourage open communication, strengthening referral systems between community health workers, clinics, and hospitals.
The overall objective of the Project is to improve access to, and utilization of SRH services by female and male adolescents and other underserved population groups in Lira, Northern Uganda.
Lira University, GLOFORD, an NGO, Reproductive Health Uganda, University of Calgary and Lira District Local Government are CAFFP-PAC Consortium Partners.
Other members who attended the meeting were Dr Edmonton Acheka, Assistant District Health Officer, Dr. Amir Kabunga, Dr. Chris Morish Ongom, Dr. Jackson Ayeko and Gutu Jane.
