By Anzoo Evaline

Adjumani – In a bid to improve adolescent access and utilization of health services, Right to Play in partnership with WaterAid and FHI360 under the Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) project have distributed sports materials to all the 43 health facilities across Adjumani district.

The intervention follows growing concerns over low revisit rates by adolescents to health facilities, largely attributed to the absence of adolescent-friendly corners that make health centres welcoming to young people.

Speaking during the handover, Othman Bagonizi the project officer working with right to play has emphasized the purpose of the materials and citied that the aim of the sport materials is to keep the adolescents busy when they visit the health facilities

“Under the SRHR Project, Right to Play in particular has provided the sports materials that’s football, netballs, volleyballs and volleyball nets that will be given to all the health centre facilities across the district to support adolescent to easily reach or seek for services from the health centres as they engage in sports activities”, said the project officer Othman.

The package of sports materials delivered includes footballs, netballs, volleyball and volleyball net to enhance peer-to-peer engagement among youth during health facility visits.

The District Assistant health officer in charge of maternal health care Dr. Lulu Henry Leku welcomed the donation and said that it has been a challenge to them since the revisit of the health facility by the adolescents.

“These particular materials that we have received are going to be used in all the health facilities in the district, we have witnessed increased OPD attendance by the Adolescent accessing our services. Our biggest challenge has been the revisit many young people don’t go back and one of the feedback we have got is that they do not have any service that can keep them at the facility”, The DHO stressed.

The deputy RDC Emmanuel Okwere commended the effort, and pledged proper monitoring by his office to ensure proper utilization. “I want to commend the good work our partners are doing in the district in ensuring improved standard of living, and I want to pledged we as a government monitors in the district, we are going to play our part in ensuring that this sports equipment we are receiving here today are properly utilized”, said Deputy RDC.

With the new approach, stakeholders are optimistic that revisit rates among adolescents will improve significantly, ensuring they receive continuous care and support in areas of sexual reproductive and health rights.