GENDER
Gender equality is a must for a world of Zero Hunger; where all women, men, girls and boys can exercise their human rights, right to adequate food. This is why the pursuit of gender equality and women’s empowerment (Sustainable Development Goal 5) is central to fulfilling the West Nile-Community Action for Rural Development (WN-CARD’s) mandate.
Wherever we work – saving lives, changing lives – we must tackle the inequalities that oppress and discriminate against women and girls and promote equity and the empowerment of all. This is particularly so in humanitarian crises and places of conflict, when food insecurity and malnutrition are exacerbated.
To reach food and nutrition security for all, it is essential that food assistance policies and programmes create conditions that advance, rather than undermine, gender equality and women’s empowerment. Women’s empowerment is a key means of achieving gender equality. It involves women having the capacity to determine and shape their own lives and contribute – equally with men – in shaping the lives of their families, communities and societies.
Over the last 6 years, gender policies at WN-CARD have evolved from a women-centred approach to focus on gender equality and this can be reached when everyone has equal opportunities, equal access to resources, and equal voice in the decisions making to shape their households, communities.
Photo: WN-CARD’s Trained Female Community Facilitator (Ms. Alice) contesting for the Elective RWC position of Chairperson for Omugo Village IV in Omugo Refugee settlement with support from Care International and funding from Canada Government (GAC4)
Sexual, Reproductive & Maternal Health
Poor health and poverty often occur together. WN-CARD fights poverty by improving the health of millions of the community vulnerable poorest people especially women and girls. In rural community’s women in particular struggle to live full and healthy lives. WN-CARD is improving women’s health by providing access to health services, and understanding of reproductive health, HIV, Malaria and TB prevention, and maternal care. In Imvepi, Rhino Camp and Omugo Refugee settlement and the host community, we are improving access to affordable and quality public health services, and do referral links to Health centers and hospitals, and improving the skills of healthcare workers.
WN-CARD also train male and female community leaders in ways to help increase knowledge of reproductive and maternal health in remote communities of Imvepi, Rhino Camp and Omugo refugee settlement.
WN-CARD also help to increase the income of women living with HIV and continued to sensitize the communities on Malaria reduction in west Nile sub Region by 2030 and helping slow the spread of the disease through education.
WN-CARD supports Young girls’ and women’s right to safe childbirth, reproductive self-determination and bodily integrity. We work to reduce maternal mortality, increase healthy timing and spacing of pregnancies, and the elimination of discrimination and violence. 
Photo: WN-CARD conducting Sexual Reproductive Health Talk with Young Girls in Omugo Refugee settlement with support from CARE International in Uganda
WN-CARD in partnership with Agakhan Foundation with funds from European Union< is implementing a one-year project GIRLS RE-EMPOWERED PROJECT food support to 500 vulnerable Refugee and Host Teenage Girls in Rhino camp and Imvepi settlements.
Through working with the community leaders, a total of more than 500 young Girls and mothers of the targeted number of beneficiaries were mapped in Omugo and Imvepi refugee settlements inclusive of the host communities, we also offered Psychosocial support to the young pregnant and lactating mothers, Supported them with Nutritional food supplements, distribution of Sanitary pads, Dignity kits and Mama Kits for safe delivery in the health centers, conducted male engagement with the male counter parts educating them on the Health issues like HIV and other sexual transmitted diseases, abstinence from sex, and trained 100 young teenage pregnant mothers on Business skills and Enterprenual skills in making Liquid soap, smearing Oil, and Bar shop making.
Photo Below: WN-CARD in Partnership with Agakhan Foundation supported Young Teenage pregnant and Lactating Mothers with Mama Kits and Dignity Kits in order to improve on Maternal Hygiene in Imvepi and Omugo Refugee settlement and Host Communities in Terego District.
Photo Above: Second Phase of Supplementary Food distribution to 500 Teenage pregnant and Lactating Mothers due to the Impact of COVID-19 in Imvepi and Omugo Refugee settlemet and Host Communities of Odupi and Obiyo in Terego District.
WOMEN’S ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT
WN-CARD women’s economic empowerment as the process by which women increase their right to economic
resources and power to make decisions that benefit themselves, their families and their communities. Investing in women’s economic empowerment sets a path for poverty reduction and for equality between men and women. WN-CARD works to ensure that poor rural women have access to business skills and affordable financial services and to fulfil their economic and social potential. We empower women to build better livelihoods, earn more income, and create businesses that provide jobs and boost local economies to play a leadership role in their communities.
To promote Psycho-social support, social, and economic resources to sustain emotional and physical well-being among people in ways that advance their aspirations and satisfy their needs in West Nile.
The Community health department in WN-CARD aims to improve the health and wellbeing of the communities in West Nile by:Continue to enhance processes and procedures for the handling of sexual misconduct cases to ensure a systematic,
coordinated, and victim-centered approach.
- Strengthen guidance on addressing sexual misconduct.
- Conduct training and awareness-raising on sexual misconduct
- Strengthen outreach to communities and community-based feedback mechanisms (CBCM) to facilitate
and improve SEA reporting and community engagement. - Enhance mechanisms to ensure PSEA and SH mainstreaming, in parallel with targeted efforts to address sexual
misconduct. - Encouraging people to actively participate in their own health care
- Working together with other primary health care providers such as general practitioners (GPs) to provide coordinated care
- Liaising with other health agencies and service providers to fill service gaps especially for referrals.
- Encouraging individuals and community groups to actively participate in the Organization’s activities, including service planning, fundraising and volunteer work
- Promoting prevention of lifestyle-related diseases and conditions
- Developing health care programs and activities to improve social and physical environments in our communities.
The programmes include:-
- Health Education program
- HIV/AIDS interventions
- Prevention
- Care and treatment and
- Psycho-social support
- A) Maternal child health promotion
- Malaria in pregnancy and under fives
- Promotion of early health seeking behavior
- Promotion of good nutrition among pregnant mothers and under-fives
- B)Reproductive Heath
- Family planning
- Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health
- Sexual Reproductive Health Rights
- C) Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
- Ensuring access to qualitative and quantitative water supply
- Sanitation demand creation (CLTS, PHAST)
- WASH Governance
- Behavior Change Communication (BCC/IEC)
- D) Counseling Services in
- Stress management
- Alcohol and other substance addiction
- Ageing and loneliness
- Juvenile delinquencies
ACHIEVEMENTS
WN-CARD has also in partnership with World Action Fund (WAF) a sister NGO has distributed over 150 wheel chairs to aid movement for the physically disabled individuals including children.
Community Health at a Glance
