The vision of Bwindi Community Hospital is “a healthy and productive community free from preventable disease and with excellent health services accessible to all.” Developing youth friendly services is seen as integral to achieving this and has been a priority for BCH for over ten years.

A feasibility study was commissioned in 2016 to explore this. Parents, hospital staff and four separate groups of young people (pupils at Mukono Secondary School, representatives of the twelve villages of Buhoma district, teenage mothers and nursing students) were consulted. A twice weekly clinic was proposed, with youth friendly training for staff and outreach into the community to meet the needs of young people throughout the hospital catchment area. Parents asked for help in advising their children on how to live healthy lives. Young people wanted confidential services away from other parts of the hospital, addressing all their health and lifestyle needs.

The building of a new multi-purpose hall at the hospital offers a suitable discrete location and the clinic is due to start in the next couple of months. It will be run by the family planning nurse, a clinical officer and the visiting GP from the UK and will offer free health care addressing all the young people’s concerns in a confidential and friendly environment. Training is to be provided for all hospital staff so that BCH becomes a completely youth friendly institution.

An appeal has been launched to help with one-off capital costs which will be incurred in launching the clinic. You can learn more or donate here.