Citizen Voice & Action Empowers Communities to Demand Better Health Care.

At Aukot Health Centre II in Gweri County, 25-year-old Gertrude Asana sits on a hospital bed, gently cradling her two-day-old baby boy against her chest.

Her face glows with quiet pride. The birth was smooth, though exhausting, and her calm eyes carry the deep strength of a woman who knows what it means to bring life into the world.

Beside her, her mother-in-law, Harriet Achom, hovers protectively, adjusting the baby’s shawl, offering Gertrude water, tending to her firstborn. Harriet’s tender movements are tinged with memory, recalling her own childbirth experiences decades ago.

For Gertrude, this delivery is nothing like her first.

Four years earlier, she gave birth to her daughter in a dimly lit, cramped room at the same facility, without a bed, clean water, privacy, or proper care. There was no midwife on duty, only a nurse. She remembers the fear vividly:

“Mothers lost their babies here. I did not know if my child would survive,” she says softly.

Back then, women were discharged almost immediately after delivery. Any complications meant a long, stressful referral to Soroti Regional Hospital, miles away. Many mothers choose to deliver elsewhere.

In 2017, World Vision introduced the Citizen Voice and Action (CVA) approach in Gweri; a grassroots advocacy method that empowers communities to hold government and service providers accountable for essential public services like health care, education, and child protection.

Through CVA, selected community members received training in government policies, including the national health policy. This opened their eyes to glaring service gaps.

“During community meetings, we realized our urgent need was better health care for mothers and children at Aukot Health Centre II,” says Richard Okiror Burton, Chairperson of CVA in Gweri.

What followed was relentless community advocacy. CVA members engaged local and district leaders, demanding action. Their persistence paid off: the facility now has a fully equipped maternity ward with running water, proper lighting, hospital beds, and essential medical supplies. Staffing has increased from eight irregular workers to 11 dedicated medical professionals.

The impact was immediate; more mothers now deliver at the facility, and neonatal deaths have dropped sharply.

“This time, I feel safe,” Gertrude says with a smile. “I got a free mama kit, my caretaker was allowed to stay, and health workers checked on me closely.”

CVA’s influence has extended far beyond maternity services. In education, community members have successfully lobbied for the construction of staff quarters in local schools. In livelihoods, they have initiated income-generating projects. In child protection, parents now have the skills and knowledge to safeguard their children and know where to seek help.

“Community engagement has created an environment where children are safer, and parents are more empowered,” says Richard.

As World Vision transitions out of Gweri, it leaves behind more than physical infrastructure; it leaves behind empowered citizens.

“We are confident in our ability to thrive,” Richard adds. “We’ve formed an association to stay united, and our ongoing projects will keep the momentum going.”

From a dimly lit delivery room to a safe, well-equipped ward, Aukot Health Centre II now stands as a testament to what communities can achieve when they raise their voices and keep them raised.

Story by: Derrick Kyatuka, Communications Manager, and Mungu Jakisa Brian, Communications Officer.