Gladys Anzoa is a 24-year-old adolescent change champion from Odiya Village, Logoba Sub County in Moyo district. She acknowledges the challenges many girls face in her community.
“Many young girls want nice things and when their parents don’t give them, they want to get them from the boys who will later ask for sex in return. If they need pads and the parents don’t provide, one will be forced to get money from a man or boy to buy it.” Anzoa points,
“I don’t like it when girls are not allowed to be girls, most of the girls in my community are sold off through forced early marriage by their parents to get money/dowry”.
Anzoa highlights the support offered by health workers and community leaders which simplifies her work.
“I usually report teenage pregnancy cases to nurses who in turn guide the girls on how to stay healthy during their pregnancy and refer to the police rape or SGBV cases.
Because of AFOD Uganda’s efforts, Logoba HCIII now has Adolescent friendly days every Thursdays which have become very popular among youth. Anzoa shares that the outreaches have had tremendous impact in the community,
“I am now using the knowledge and skills acquired to teach fellow teenagers and parents during outreaches on the dangers of early sex, body changes and personal hygiene, follow up pregnant girls in the community and ensure they attend Antenatal Care (ANC) services, identify and report SGBV cases to the community leaders and the police.”
Anzoa Gladys with pregnant young women she referred for ANC services at Logoba HCIII
Anzoa observes that teenagers in her community are now following her advice, and many have approached her with questions on health related issues, even parents have started attaching importance to girl child education.
“On an individual level, as a change champion, I have earned respect in the community and became a well-known focal point person for children who report cases to me. I am especially grateful to AFOD for enabling me to impact my community and I envision a community free of SGBV,” says Anzoa.
My hope is to go back to school to study medicine, I believe this will give me a greater opportunity to make a difference in the lives of young ones.
