By Jael Namiganda
Presided over by the HEJNU president Esther Nakkazi and coordinated by Namiganda Jael, the cafe my BBC Media Action was attended by at least 50 journalists from both Kampala and other regions which included Jinja, Masaka, Gulu, Soroti and Mbarara, a doctor and a pharmacist.
The participants included journalists online, radios, televisions, and newspapers.
The presenter’s discussion centred on the importance of family planning in improving the health and well-being of individuals, families and communities. The speakers highlighted the available family planning methods and commodities, government efforts to improve access and availability, the role of community health workers and private providers, and the importance of informed choice and male involvement.
Presenters
- Chris Ebong, Principal Medical Officer at Uganda’s Ministry of Health and head of the Family Planning Section
- Daniel Aguma senior pharmacist at the Ministry of Health
CHRIS EBONG
Chris Ebong, Principal Medical Officer at Uganda’s Ministry of Health and head of the Family Planning Section, emphasized that family planning is both a health and development issue.
Family Planning and National Development
- Family planning is important for achieving Uganda’s Vision 2040.
- It can improve women’s ability to participate in economic activities and contribute to national development.
- Journalists were encouraged to make family planning a regular development and health reporting issue.
- Family planning helps individuals and couples plan the timing and number of children according to their reproductive intentions.
Government Efforts to Improve Commodity Availability
The Ministry of Health is working to improve the availability of family planning commodities through:
- Direct government funding.
- Partnerships with development partners, including UNFPA.
- Expanding access through private pharmacies and drug shops.
- Increasing the number of service delivery points.
The goal is to ensure that people can access services closer to where they live and at their convenience.
Improving Quality of Family Planning Services
The Ministry has introduced a competency assessment tool for health workers.
The assessment does not only look at whether a health worker can administer an injection or insert an implant. It also assesses whether the provider can:
- Properly counsel clients.
- Explain benefits and possible side effects.
- Manage side effects.
- Help clients choose a method based on their reproductive intentions.
A counselling flip chart has also been developed to help health workers provide consistent and accurate information.
Regulation of Private Facilities
Private health facilities offering family planning services must undergo accreditation.
Accredited facilities are grouped for peer-to-peer mentorship, while health workers receive continuous training and supervision to improve the quality of services.
Addressing Side Effects
A major concern discussed was that some women stop using family planning methods because of side effects.
The Ministry emphasized that many side effects can be managed without removing the contraceptive method.
Proper counselling is therefore important so that clients understand:
- What side effects to expect.
- Which side effects are normal?
- When to seek medical attention.
- Where to obtain treatment or further advice.
Expanding Family Planning Options
The government is introducing and researching new contraceptive options to give women and couples more choices.
The presentation mentioned newer methods such as the hormonal IUD, while efforts are also being made to increase access to long-term reversible methods.
Community-Based Services
Family planning services are being brought closer to communities through:
- Community extension workers.
- Drug shops.
- Pharmacies.
- Private health facilities.
Community workers receive training to provide specific family planning methods and are expected to maintain confidentiality and trust.
Clients who are uncomfortable with one provider can choose another health worker or visit a health facility.
Teenage Pregnancy and Education
The Ministry emphasized that preventing teenage pregnancy requires more than providing contraceptive information.
Key approaches include:
- Keeping girls in school.
- Providing age-appropriate reproductive health information.
- Helping young people understand how to prevent unintended pregnancies.
- Providing appropriate support to those who have already become pregnant.
Traditional Methods
Traditional methods such as breastfeeding-related fertility awareness and beads were discussed.
The presentation noted that these methods require a high level of discipline and consistency and are generally less effective than modern contraceptive methods.
Counselling should therefore provide balanced information on both traditional and modern options.
Men’s Involvement
The Ministry is increasing efforts to involve men in family planning.
A new men’s involvement strategy targets men as:
- Decision-makers in families.
- Financial supporters of family planning.
- Users of sexual and reproductive health services.
Men are encouraged to consider services and methods such as condoms, withdrawal and vasectomy. Research into additional male contraceptive methods is also ongoing.
Accurate Reporting on Family Planning Methods
Journalists were urged to clearly distinguish between traditional/natural methods and modern contraceptive methods.
Key Message
Family planning is not only about preventing pregnancy it is about improving health, empowering individuals, supporting families and contributing to Uganda’s development.
The Ministry’s focus is to ensure that people have accurate information, quality counselling, and a wider choice of methods and convenient access to services
DANIEL AGUMA
Daniel Aguma highlighted government efforts to improve access to family planning commodities, services and information through both public and private health providers.
Key Highlights
- Family planning commodities include medicines and devices, such as intrauterine devices (IUDs).
- Services are provided through public and private health facilities, pharmacies, clinics and community health workers.
- People should have access to a range of methods, including short-term, long-term and permanent options.
- Aguma emphasized the importance of informed choice, allowing individuals and couples to select methods that suit their needs.
- He called for greater involvement of men in family planning decisions.
Digital Innovation
The Ministry is exploring the use of AI-powered technology to improve access to family planning information.
The Chabot is intended to help users:
- Get reliable family planning information.
- Find nearby service providers.
- Understand possible side effects.
- Access information about emergency contraception.
Public-Private Partnerships
The Ministry is using a total market approach, bringing together public and private providers to improve availability and quality of services.
- Government-procured commodities in public facilities are provided free of charge.
- Private providers may charge for services.
- The government is exploring links between private health providers and insurance schemes to make services more affordable.
Nurse LINA AI Health Chatbot
The second presentation focused on Nurse Lina an AI-powered health information Chabot developed by the Ministry of Health.
Nurse Lina is designed to provide answers to common health questions and help users identify nearby health facilities and services.
Key Highlights
- Provides health information through digital technology.
- Can give location-specific recommendations.
- Currently operates in English.
- There are plans to introduce local languages such as Luganda.
- The Ministry also has a toll-free health information service where members of the public can speak directly with health professionals.
Ensuring Safe and Legitimate Health Services
A major message from the presentation was the need for the public to seek services from licensed health facilities and qualified health professionals.
Professional bodies regulate different categories of health workers, including:
- Nurses and midwives.
- Doctors and dental practitioners.
- Allied health professionals.
Health facilities, pharmacies and drug shops are also subject to licensing and regulation.
Public Safety Message
Journalists should educate the public to check whether a health facility has a valid license, usually displayed in a visible area such as the reception.
An unlicensed facility should be treated as a warning sign.
Conclusion
The two presentations demonstrate Uganda’s efforts to make family planning services and reliable health information more accessible. The use of AI, involvement of private providers and community health workers, greater male participation and stronger regulation of health facilities are emerging as important areas for public health reporting.
For journalists, the key responsibility is to provide accurate, verified information while helping the public understand where and how to access safe family planning and health services.
QUESTIONS FROM JOURNALISTS
- How does the Ministry of Health supervise health workers in these health centers who provide the Family Planning Service — why are women in rural areas receiving methods without proper counseling, leading to side effects and unwanted pregnancies? Are health workers too busy or unsupervised? (Joy Namugambe)
- My concern is about long-term family planning like tubal ligation: young women (20–30s) are undergoing it what are the long-term effects and is reversal possible if they change their mind later? Also, how can artificial intelligence help manage IUD side effects and other method-specific issues? (Serina Naggujja)
- Many people experience side effects with family planning methods, especially hormonal IUDs, often because they don’t know there are hormonal vs non-hormonal IUDs how will first-time users be informed at pharmacies or hospitals? Do the products come with adequate instructions? (Zam )
- Given recent improvements in IUDs, how will community extension of family planning be handled without stigmatizing users (e.g., labeling them as promiscuous)? How will the government address these rumors and stigma? (Jael Namiganda )
- At what age should people be recommended to access family planning methods, especially considering the high burden of teenage mothers? ( Chipo Mariam)
- With diversification of access (encouraging pharmacies, drug shops), how will regulation work and will methods be subsidized? How can innovations guard against exploitation where private facilities overcharge? (Kintu Kalid )
- Is there research or development to improve family planning products to reduce persistent side effects (e.g., heavy bleeding), or do products remain unchanged? (Nassaka Flavia)
- What is the process for ordering methods online (e.g., condoms)? How long does delivery take and what are the costs — can mobile money be used? (Benon Bukkede )
- How are sexuality education and family planning being handled in schools given resistance from parents and communities? How are parents and schools being engaged? (Alosyious Byamukama)
- What sensitization is being done for natural family planning methods — are they being promoted or assumed known? How are men being involved, given some men oppose their partners’ use of family planning (including reports of violence)? (Olivia Namaloba)
- Do natural or traditional family planning methods really work and are they endorsed? (Hilda )
- Is vasectomy a permanent/life-long choice, and how are men being encouraged to embrace family planning? (Musanje Ben)
- How will the government regulate extension of services to grassroots (drug shops) in rural areas to prevent unregulated sales and misuse?
- Why isn’t the Billings (symptothermal) natural method promoted more widely, given some users report long-term effectiveness?
- Regarding AI in family planning and Gen Z: how do we balance young people accessing information via AI with legal/policy restrictions (e.g., the sexuality bill)? Can young people access commodities online? Are family planning efforts being targeted to rural areas, and how much is government funding versus donor funding? Is there a time frame for scaling access versus pausing to avoid very low birth rates like in countries in Asia? (Esther Nakkazi)
- How does the government intend to fix the unmet need for long but reversible methods such as implants for rural women who want to limit childbirth? (Idivasaija)
- What is the name of the AI-powered tool the Ministry has introduced to scale up family planning uptake in Uganda? (Chau Willi, Gulu)
- Can the Ministry of Health help journalists with timely updates, especially on teenage pregnancies? (Masiko Godfre / audience)
- 19. Is the AI innovation an African or Ugandan product — who developed it, and does it support local languages? (Online question / Speaker 6)
END.
