Article
Yamba App: Empowering Ugandan Students with Sexual Reproductive Health Information
Uganda's Ministry of Education and Sports, with support from UNESCO, organized a two-day event at Makerere University to finalize the development of the Yamba Health App. Derived from the Luganda word for 'help,' the Yamba app is being developed by students to improve access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information. Students from Makerere University (Main and Jinja Campuses), Kampala International University (KIU), and Ndejje University, along with other stakeholders, attended the event held on June 20 and 21.
Students in higher institutions of learning in Uganda face numerous challenges, including high HIV transmission rates, drug abuse, and gender-based violence (GBV), significantly impacting their educational outcomes. A baseline survey conducted with UNESCO support in 2018 across several universities in Uganda revealed alarming statistics: approximately 7 out of 10 students were sexually active, 5 out of 10 did not use protection, and 3 out of 10 had contracted a sexually transmitted infection within the last 12 months. Limited access to critical SRH information and services was a key contributing factor.
On the light of these statistics, UNESCO's O3 Plus Project; implemented in 13 countries in the Eastern and Southern African region; aims to ensure that young people achieve positive health, education, and gender equality outcomes by reducing new HIV infections, unintended pregnancies, and gender-based violence.
Supported by O3 Project, the Yamba app is a central hub for sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information and services. It aims to revolutionize how students and young adults access and share essential SRH information, filling a critical gap in their knowledge.
The Yamba app offers a variety of features, including educational modules, expert guidance, and a platform for users to ask questions and share experiences. It provides accurate, non-judgmental, and culturally appropriate information on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and sex education (SE), and addresses the unique challenges faced by students and young adults.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the event, Henry Semakula, Principal Education Officer at the Ugandan Ministry of Education, welcomed the initiative and praised UNESCO for its pivotal role in developing the Yamba application. Semakula emphasized the importance of aligning the app’s content with global standards to support the well-being of students effectively.
While the Ministry of Education and Sports applauds the innovation aimed at bridging the SRH informational needs of students. We should be cautious and ensure that the resources accessible on the Yamba App are morally, culturally, and age-appropriate, as well as scientifically accurate.
Daphnée Blanc, the O3 Plus focal person from the UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa, outlined the Yamba app's major objectives:
- Provide accurate SRH information to inform students' decision-making.
- Improve student well-being by providing locations and contacts for SRH services.
- Offer free access to professional counseling services.
- Create safe spaces for students to network and discuss issues.
- Provide an emergency helpline and links for quick access to emergency services.
The training included practical sessions on developing impactful articles and stories addressing the multifaceted challenges faced by students at higher education and training institutions (HTEIs). The sessions integrated presentations on topics such as alcohol and substance abuse, HIV and STI prevention and treatment, GBV, online bullying, and sexual harassment. Other critical areas addressed during the training included mental health, relationships, pregnancy and contraception, managing finances, and the importance of physical activity for overall well-being.
Rashula Adid, a student from Makerere University, Jinja campus, participated in the event and expressed satisfaction with the capacity-building exercises. Adid expressed gratitude to UNESCO for facilitating the app’s development and demanded its expansion to other universities in Uganda.
Young people are well-versed in digital spaces, and the introduction of the Yamba Health App will transform information access across platforms.
The app has been successfully presented to the students attending the event. Next steps include the launch of the Yamba app and efforts to popularize it among students to support the initiative’s sustainability and effectiveness.
