The lack of availability of contraceptives at many local health facilities in Uganda still contributes to a low contraceptive prevalence rate and an a high unmet need. More importantly, it limits people to make a free and informed choice on what family planning methods to use.
The Coalition for Health Promotion and Social Development (HEPS Uganda) launched the "take stock" program mobilize communities to to take action at a local level and address the problem of stock-outs.
TRAC FM enables HEPS Uganda to interact directly with even more of the most important people in this story: the women and men themselves who want to have a full, free, and informed choice when it comes to family planning. The TRAC FM platform will be used to feature live interactive SMS polls during radio shows that address the issue.
Together with TRAC FM, HEPS Uganda has trained over 30 radio presenters and working with them to address contraceptive use in radio shows. By gathering the reactions of the audience, through the TRAC FM platform, radio shows can become even more lively and informed by the voices of the listeners. Meanwhile, TRAC FM’s smart visualisation of the data will allow HEPS Uganda to evaluate the impact of the project.
This interaction with policy makers doesn't just empower citizens to take charged. The qualitative research of HEPS Uganda will be combined with the quantitative data gathered by track. This evidence gathered at the local level will be shared at the national level to ensure a meaningful and lasting impact.
HEPS Uganda: Take Stock
Despite a new commitment for the Ugandan government to promote family planning and supply chain policy changes, the public health care system remains plagued by a shortage of contraceptives. HEPS Uganda and TRAC FM are taking stock.
Polls part of this campaign:
HEPS2: In the last three months did you try to obtain a family planning method that was unavailable?
HEPS3: In the last three months did you try to obtain a family planning method that was unavailable?