Situka Alliance Initiative Uganda

Our Story!

This is part of our story highlighting 4 out of the many pillars at SAI:

Pillar 1: Community Mobilisation & Engagement (CoME). This involves going to the grassroots and hold face to face meetings with the beneficiaries (who are subject matter experts).

Pillar 2: Institutionalising Health Seeking Practices (IHSP). This is when both males and females are provided venues and dates to meet professional health workers who can provide them life improving quality services.

Pillar 3:  Males As Champions for Health (MACH). Under MACH, identified couples plan to go with each other to attend clinics for medical examination, counselling, guidance or treatment.

Pillar 4:  Community Health Awareness, Sensitisation & Education (CHASE). This is when communities are provided information, education and communication sessions on how to improve or sustain quality life.

SAI - is a Non-Government Organisation striving to build strategic structural and socio-cultural institutions promote deconstructing toxic, hegemonic masculinity by increasing male involvement and participation in contexts affirming the dignity of women, children and all humans. SAI, will specifically contribute to creating RMNCAH, GBV/VAC Prevention, SRHR including HIV/AIDS Prevention continuum through CAAA to strengthen health, social and economic ties among families and communities.

SAI relies on community owned resource persons (CORPs) as change agents and emphasize “ABCD”: Affinity and sensitivity to wholesome holistic health for all; Body dignity affirming practices to bring to mind the need to avoid violent acts; Coalesce around competencies ensuring RMNCAH outcomes; and Dedicate efforts to avoid delay in accessing support for self-care.

The Genesis of SAI is traced from the desire to ensure a broad approach to Family and community health in a Holistic Integrated approach based on the principle of Good Men Action Groups (GMAGs). The underlying concept focuses on engaging men and boys in Livelihood projects, RMNCAH, GBV/VAC Prevention, SRHR including HIV/AIDS Prevention continuum to enhance their own health and the health of their families which will result into improvement in socio-economic status of households, communities and productivity of the nation at large. Furthermore, it helps address precarious toxic masculinity and in their place transform and nurture uplifting dignity affirming masculinity (attitudes, behaviours and practices) at an early stage to ensure continuity of mutual care at all stages of life.

Where We Work:

SAI currently operates in Kampala and the greater Luweero Triangle in the Districts of Nakaseke, Luweero and Nakasongola. We plan to roll out the programmes to other Districts around the country after 2023. As part of strengthening community grassroots SAI intends to partner with the catholic church of Kasana Luweero Diocese and Kampala Capital City Authority - KCCA in order to stimulate change in the operational areas.

Our Vision: 

The Vision of SAI is to mobilize men to participate in mechanisms that promote free, healthy and quality living for themselves, their spouses, children and communities.

Mission Statement: 


To build strategic structural and socio-cultural institutions which promote deconstructing toxic hegemonic precarious masculinity by increasing male involvement and participation in contexts affirming the dignity of women, children and all humans. 

Goal: 

To promote male involvement and participation in RMNCAH, GBV/VAC Prevention, SRHR including HIV/AIDS Prevention continuum; Poverty Eradication; and Environment Conservation through CAAA to strengthen health, social and economic ties among Communities and families.

Objectives:

1. To form CORPs of educated men and boys on the relevancy of being involved in the promotion of health services in their communities.

2. To empower men and boys with knowledge of gender-based violence and its negative impact to families and communities by emphasizing the ABCD motto.

3. To sensitize men and boys on behavioural change regarding maternal health, SRHR, GBV/VAC Prevention including HIV.

4. To educate men and boys on the SRH and strengthen the fight against HIV/AIDs in their communities.

5. To empower men and boys with skills and knowledge to support their families in health related issues at all levels.

6. To build partnerships with other stakeholders to support the mobilization and involvement of boys and men for successful implementation of RMNCAH, GBV/VAC Prevention, SRH including HIV/AIDS programs.

7. To promote the implementation of programmes in schools related to male involvement/ participation RMNCAH, GBV/VAC, SRH including HIV/AIDS Prevention continuum.

8. To promote advocacy for male involvement/participation in RMNCAH, GBV/VAC Prevention, SRH including HIV/AIDS Prevention continuum at community and national level.

9. To mobilise resources for male involvement/participation in RMNCAH, GBV/VAC Prevention, SRH including HIV/AIDS Prevention continuum for effective implementation of the programmes at community level.

10. To involve in conducting research on male involvement/participation in RMNCAH, GBV/VAC Prevention, SRH including HIV/AIDS Prevention continuum and assist in disseminating findings.

Our Core Values!

1. Affinity: We catalyze a passionate involvement of all able-bodied persons in achieving wholesome holistic health for all.

2. Beneficence: We have a moral obligation to do what is good and right for the community.

3. Cohesiveness: We have the ability to think and act as one and we possess bonds that link us to one another and a group as a whole.

4. Integrity: Being honest, truthful and trustworthy with partners, colleagues and the community we serve is the back bone of what we do.

5. Professionalism: We are distinguished on values based on attributes of Respect, competency, accountability and self-regulation.

6. Collaborative partnerships: We are open to agreements and actions from partners both internal and external to share knowledge and resources to accomplish a mutual goal.

We hope to share more stories like this one above.

Enjoy!

CEO Conducting an interview to gauge male involvement in enabling spouses to attend ANC. Source: SAI-2019

Early pregnancies among Adolescents makes them vulnerable to fistula and other complications related to pregnancies. When men are involved in education sessions one of the outcomes is delaying sexual debut. Also when females are involved in sessions with male partners present they plan on how and when to have pregnancies. Source: SAI-2019

One of the advantages of having males escort their spouses to ANC sessions is they both get information, education and communication on sexual reproductive health, Safer Sex Negotiations (Family planning & Child spacing) and medical check ups. This provides early testing and timely diagnosis in case of any illnesses or infections. Source: SAI-2019

When communities are mobilised to attend focus group discussions, they are opportunities to participate in information and experience sharing, they play the role of primary source givers and when they are mentored they are able to keep within thematic areas. In the picture we were discussing how to form viable grassroots development clubs. Source: SAI-2019