After two years of dedicated groundwork and three smaller grants, WVD has been selected for a transformative 3.5-year initiative to expand vasectomy services in Zambia and Uganda. This landmark project, funded by the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), sets an ambitious goal: to reach 3,000 vasectomy procedures in Zambia and 9,000 in Uganda —countries where uptake of the procedure has historically been minimal. The bottom line objective of this project is to strengthen both countries’ public sectors, leaving behind a sustainable program for years to come.
WVD’s role in this effort centers on generating demand and transforming social norms around male reproductive responsibility. While Marie Stopes Uganda (MSUG) and Marie Stopes Zambia (MSZ) will spearhead service delivery, WVD will leverage its proven expertise in public education, community mobilization, and advocacy. This baseline education is crucial in both Zambia, where just seven vasectomies were recorded in 2022, and Uganda, where the numbers were not much higher.
The Zambia component of the project will launch at three public health hospitals in Lusaka, Zambia’s capital, and gradually expand to other major cities and rural outreach programs over the next several years, with the goal of having trained providers at the ready within a few hours reach of 90% of the population by the end of the initiative. In Uganda, where Marie Stopes Uganda (MSUG) already has over a dozen trained providers, our role will focus exclusively on building demand. While coordinating demand generation with service delivery is inherently complex, we are confident that with a shared commitment and unified vision, we will achieve our ambitious targets in both countries.
Although procedures done at WVD’s clinic won’t count toward the grant’s public sector targets, the clinic remains essential for normalizing the procedure and inspiring confidence in the community. Efforts like the Responsible Men’s Club, which empowers men to become peer educators and champions of vasectomy, will be instrumental in shifting cultural narratives.
This project is not just about numbers—it’s about changing minds, supporting public health systems, and building a movement for responsible fatherhood. WVD is honored to continue this work alongside committed partners like CIFF and Marie Stopes and looks forward to the challenges and breakthroughs ahead.
