Mary (right) engaging with CHWs and community members.
In the heart of Mbarara, Uganda, a passionate private health provider named Mary Uwizeye Atukunde has become a beacon of change in her community. Through support from The Challenge Initiative (TCI), Mary has transformed her own capacity and that of others to meet the pressing reproductive health needs of urban poor populations – especially youth and adolescents.
Before coaching from TCI, Mary faced daunting challenges:
- Low uptake of family planning (FP) services, particularly among adolescents and youth.
- Limited personal knowledge and skills in delivering adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health (AYSRH) services.
- A high rate of unmet FP needs in her community, which contributed to unintended pregnancies, school dropouts, unsafe abortions, and increased rates of HIV infections among young girls.
Mary said:
These were huge challenges in my community that weren’t fully addressed. But thanks to the TCI program, one by one, we’re dissolving them.”
Master coaches from different cities in Uganda attending a training session.
With TCI’s support, Mary participated in:
- Hands-on training and technical assistance focused on FP and AYSRH.
- Capacity building via TCI University’s toolkits – earning certificates and gaining confidence in her role.
- Coaching sessions where she was mentored as a Master Coach and later helped cascade training to other providers.
Mary was also involved in strategic engagements, such as a national training in Kampala with National Drugs Shops Advocacy Initiative (NDAI), where she joined other TCI-trained Master Coaches to sharpen their skills and prepare to train service providers across Uganda.
Mary’s knowledge and motivation translated into real community transformation. She organized and led integrated FP outreaches, collaborating with community health workers (CHWs) and village health teams (VHTs) who have since become FP champions and gatekeepers for community awareness. Mary has also helped debunk myths and misconceptions among youth, leading to increased facility visits and uptake of FP services.
One powerful example is Birungi Catherine, a 20-year-old mother who attended one of Mary’s education sessions. After reflecting on her needs, she visited Mary’s facility the next day and chose a long-acting method of contraception. Mary proudly said:
She’s now living happily with her child and no fear of unplanned pregnancies.”
Mary’s efforts are contributing to:
- A reduction in unmet need for family planning.
- Increased awareness of AYSRH rights.
- Fewer teenage pregnancies, school dropouts, and unsafe abortions.
- Stronger, healthier communities that understand and embrace the benefits of FP.
Sustainability and Next Steps
Mary (right) with a colleague holding an FP informational document.
Mary is optimistic about the future:
In just a short time, we’re building a generation that is no longer ignorant about reproductive health. Youth are more informed, communities are more supportive, and change is happening.”
Yet, challenges remain:
- Limited resources to expand outreach.
- Regulatory barriers that restrict private providers from offering long-acting methods.
- Gaps in provider knowledge related to AYSRH packages.
Still, Mary remains committed to the journey:
I can’t exhaust the benefits of this program. I look forward to more achievements because my goal is to make a lasting impact on lives, families, and communities through family planning and AYSRH services.”
