MS Ladies: empowered women empower women
If you were told contraception would make you unable to have children in the future, wouldn’t you be fearful of using it?
In Uganda, young women often hear myths like this regarding contraception that lead them to believe protecting themselves against unintended pregnancy will be harmful to their bodies. This fear, coupled with stigma and hostility from men or other community members, is contributing to a high teen pregnancy rate in the country.
But MS Ladies in Uganda are fighting this misinformation and stigma. United by a strong desire to help the women in their communities’ access contraceptive information and services, they provide discreet support to adolescent girls and women, and are fully embedded in the communities they serve.
MS Ladies not only establish close relationships with their clients but also tailor their services to the unique needs of the local community. Trusted within their communities, they are particularly effective at reaching young and unmarried women who might not feel confident in using traditional clinics — the clients who are often most at risk for unwanted teenage pregnancies.
MS Ladies program not only directly benefits the women and girls receiving their services; the program also empowers the nurses and midwives themselves, enhancing their entrepreneurial skills, setting up micro businesses, learning new business skills and increasing their profile in the community.
This was the case for Doreen, who became an MS Lady one year ago. She was already a midwife who owned a clinic in the outskirts of the capital, Kampala . A trusted member of her community, she helps up to 300 clients every month find a contraceptive method that fits their individual needs.
Doreen is a proud and vocal family planning advocate in her community.
“If I don’t have many clients when I come to the clinic, I take the megaphone and go and sit at the back of the boda boda [motorcycle taxi] and remind people that I’m here for them,” she said.
When she returns to her clinic later in the day, there are usually women lined up waiting for her.
Doreen loves being busy and working hard, so she says that she is very happy working as an MS Lady.
“I have a bigger income, and my well-being is better,” she said.
Team members like Doreen are the perfect example of women working together to lift each other up.
