1st N0vember, 2022 | Bugweri District: The Right2Grow consortium conducted a one day kick off meeting for the R2G pilot research study on Gender Dynamics in line with access and utilization of Nutrition and WASH services in communities. This was held at the Bugweri district Technical Hall presented by the Triofantastico who elaborated the purpose, expectations and benefits of the study that is to be conducted with in the district based on gender dynamics in accessing and utilization of Nutrition and WASH practices.
Mr. Nixon Ochatre appreciated the district leadership for the opportunity presented to the Right2Grow Uganda consortium in amplifying Nutrition and WASH advocacy efforts in line with service delivery efforts by the Leaders.
He further elaborated that the Right2Grow program is 5 year project and is being implemented in over 10 districts of Uganda with the need to ‘Ensure that every child is able to reach his/her full potential’.
The Community Expert Mr. Nixon Ochatre (Amani Initiative & Chair – MCLD Uganda Chapter) further informed the District Officials that the consortium identified two critical areas that need to be acted upon if we are to ensure that children are able to grow well with access to good nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene. He emphasized that the Righ2Grow program is more of an Advocacy program whereby it brings all actors in development to work together with communities, district leadership committees all through system strengthening, identifying gaps that can be used as a team to ensure that they address such challenges facing children.
The Bugweri District Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Ms. Doreen Khakusuma appreciated the Right2Grow team and all members that attended the kick-off meeting. Ms. Doreen emphasized the need for factual data that is not exaggerated which some partners normally present statistics that do not depict what is on the ground. She informed the Research team that the findings should instead represent the state of Bugweri district as per the target community member responses in the sub-counties of Ibulanku and Igombe where the Right2Grow implementing CBOs (Wilmat Development Foundation & Multipurpose Vocational & Training Centre) are operating along with sharing the findings with the district for follow-up and validation.
The RDC Ms. Janet Billy commended that the Pilot study is timely for the best of Bugweri District. She recommended that more emphasis should also be put on improving the toilet facilities in schools for the best of our girls most importantly if we are to improve good hygiene. She tasked partners to also amplify on the sensitization efforts on sanitation and hygiene as an enabler for flexibility by communities to adopt good sanitation and hygiene. She encouraged the use of local leaders to maximize the program support to Bugweri communities and beyond.