In an effort to build local public health capacity and drive ownership of public health activity in Northern Uganda, GRIT Lab partnered with Children’s Chance International and Energy in Action on a youth-focused empowerment and training program in January 2021. The goal of the program was to train the youth in public health concepts and skills so that they could serve as data collectors, community educators, and advocates.
Thirty youth aged 17 – 22 years were recruited from three sub-counties (Agweng, Ayami, and Aromo) in Lira District, Uganda to serve as Youth Public Health Ambassadors (YPHA). To begin the process of selecting youth ambassadors from these sub-counties, CCI community volunteers based in their respective sub-counties reached out to local council representatives at the sub-county and village levels and explained the study, its objectives, and the selection process. The CCI volunteers met with parents and youth to share about the program, and those expressing interest were taken through the recruitment requirements and key objectives, which included their ages, availability, ability to read and write in both English and Lango Language, willingness to volunteer, and commitment to community work. Special consideration was given for gender—more girls were encouraged as a way of female empowerment. Selection and recruitment of youth was done through a rigorous but transparent process chaired by local council and chairpersons, all parents, and CCI Community Volunteers. Strategies included interviews, riddles and brainstorming exercises, and speeches made in front of the selection team.
First, the youth ambassadors learned basic public health concepts and skills in a series of workshops led by student researchers in the USC GRIT lab, CCI staff, and Energy in Action volunteers (primarily public health students from Makerere University). The first workshop, held in February 2021, included interactive lessons on vector-borne disease, sanitation and hygiene, sexual and reproductive health, risky behaviors, and mental health. At the end of the first workshop, the YPHAs participated in a DELPHI exercise to identify issues they wished to prioritize in their work.
A second workshop, held in April 2021, focused on teaching data collection methods related to the public health challenges identified by the YPHAs. Together, the YPHAs and GRIT trainers developed the methodologies and tools to collect information to better understand and address disease control measures and prevention efforts in the rural communities of northern Uganda.
The YPHAs then proceeded to carry out a comprehensive community health assessment with the support of GRIT Lab student volunteers. All study protocols and tools were approved by the Internal Review Boards in Uganda (Gulu University and the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology) and USC.
A third YPHA workshop, held March 2022, focused on interpreting the data collected and developing dissemination strategies at community, district, national, and international levels. Following the workshop 4 YPHAs traveled to Kampala to present their findings at Makerere University, the Ugandan Ministry of Health, and the Ugandan Parliament.