Africa Youth Leadership Development and Health (AYLDH) Initiative

Context

Africa Youth Leadership Development and Health (AYLDH) Initiative is located in Kampala, Uganda and its program focus areas include:HIV/AIDS combination prevention, malaria prevention, prevention of hawking and irrational use of medicines Training, couching and mentoring of youth advocates for social change using the participatory approaches - hands on technical support, monitoring of government contracts on health and Agriculture.

Website:
Under construction

Area of Work:
Uganda, Africa

Contact Person:
Rev. Evatt Mugarura

Approaches to implementing Community monitoring/accountability

• Through advocacy campaigns against corruption 
  
• We also monitor and report about injustices in Government contracts in the area of health and agriculture
  
• We use media to engage society and leadership on misuse of medicines and the poor healthcare system in general.
  
• Through training of youth in integrity virtues the youth act as social change agents in their respective communities.
  

Results and Lessons

• The government response on corruption within the government contracts is slowly improving.
  
• Beneficiary communities are empowered to demand accountability.
  
• We have trained and equipped youth advocates against corruption and irrational use of medicines and the practice towards buying medicines outside of pharmacies is improving.
  
• We have a strong partnership with the National Drug Authority and with the Kampala Capital City Authority on a campaign against hawking of medicines.
  
• We have attracted funding from Global fund and implemented a program Insecticide Treated Nets in Uganda (Mbale, Busia and Tororo districts).
  
• Equipping youth with leadership skills is key to influencing social /behaviour change.
  
• Use of Participatory Approach is the best way to engage communities and to instill ownership of programs by these communities for eventual sustainability.