ACCESS TO SEXUAL REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH RIGHTS (SRHR) SERVICES DURING THE COVID-19 ERA
Background
R
each A Hand Uganda (RAHU), is youthfocused organisation working to empower young people with a focus on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). RAHU like any other SRHR stakeholder has been appalled by the social, economic and health challenges currently faced by young people in the wake of the recent government social distancing and travel restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19. Since the beginning of the year, the world has been invaded by the novel Corona Virus (COVID-19) which started in the city of Wuhan, China in January 2020. On 11th of March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 as a Pandemic. On 21st March 2020, Uganda confirmed its first case of COVID-19 and as of 20th May 2020, the total number of confirmed cases had grown to 260 (with 63 recoveries and zero deaths).
To control the spread of the pandemic, the president of the Republic of Uganda, His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni announced several restrictive measures which included a nationwide lockdown for 14 days effective 30th March 2020. This initial lockdown was further extended to an additional 21 days on the 14th April 2020. On 4th May, the lockdown was extended by 14 days. In preparation to lift some restrictions, on 18th May 2020, the president extended the lockdown for 14 days to ensure that all the masses receive free government facemasks as a condition for accessing public places. As a result of the current restrictions, young people have stayed home with limited /or no access to SRHR services and this prompted RAHU to conduct a survey.
4
