STRENGTHENING HEALTHCARE SERVICE ACCESS IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES: THE INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE HEALTHCARE SERVICES (IEHS) PROJECT KICK STARTS
The Uganda Youth and Adolescents Health Forum (UYAHF), in January launched and kick started the Inclusive and Equitable Healthcare Services (IEHS) Project, a community-based health care project funded by the German Doctors that aims at enhance access to quality healthcare services for marginalized and vulnerable communities in the districts of Budaka, Mbale, Bukedea and Butebo
The one-year project will be implemented across the four districts focusing on providing equitable access to comprehensive healthcare services while ensuring that the most vulnerable individuals can receive preventive, curative, palliative, and rehabilitative care. It will be implemented through strengthening the already existing health structures in the districts, such as supporting community-integrated outreaches, conducting mobile clinics to serve the hard-to-reach areas in a way of extending services to the community, enhancing home visits for follow-up of clients, and working with schools to establish Primary Health Care clubs.
The 3day inception meetings were held from 5th – 7th February 2025. They commenced on Wednesday 5th with Budakaand Butebo districts holding their meetings on the same day followed by Mbale and then Bukedea respectively. With coordination fron the District health Offices, these were supported by the UYAHF team leader, Nakato Joyce along with the programs manager, Prasie Mwesiga, and the IEHS project coordinator, Singura Peninah, and they brought together key stakeholders and representation including the various district stakeholders; RDC, CAO, DHO, DISO, LCV, DCDO, DEO, Probation office, LCIIIs, the district Biostaticians, health facility in charges, community health workers among others to broadly inform them about the project and discuss strategies for effective implementation.
The meeting was marked by a series of successful engagements, providing a platform to introduce the project, outline its objectives, and secure much-needed collaboration and support from key decision-makers. During the engagement, district leaders expressed their enthusiasm and commitment to working together to drive the project’s impact forward. They engaged in robust discussions on the prevailing healthcare challenges, particularly those affecting young people, women, and marginalized groups. The dialogues emphasized the urgent need for inclusive and non-judgmental health services, increased access to sexual and reproductive health education, primary health care for vulnerable communities, tackling issues such as teenage pregnancy, MCH, HIV, STDs and STIs prevention, and treatment, and NCDs, among others.
About the IEHS project: The IEHS Project employs a comprehensive and inclusive strategy, leveraging existing healthcare frameworks within the targeted districts. By integrating community-based outreaches, mobile clinics, home visits, and school-based Primary Healthcare (PHC) clubs, the project will ensure that even the most marginalized populations receive critical healthcare services. Through this approach, the project is set to provide preventive, curative, palliative, and rehabilitative care, leaving no one behind. Health education and awareness campaigns will also be a central component, ensuring that individuals and families have the knowledge and resources they need to make informed health decisions.
A major strength of the IEHS Project lies in its commitment to community empowerment. Recognizing the importance of an inclusive approach, the project aims to actively involve boys both in and out of school, as well as parents, in efforts to curb teenage pregnancies. Additionally, it seeks to establish adolescent and young mothers’and fathers’ clubs, creating a safe and equitable space where young mothers and fathers can share their experiences, access mentorship, and receive essential healthcare and psychosocial support.
During the sessions, UYAHF underscored its commitment to advocating for comprehensive and inclusive, healthcare solutions that address the specific needs of adolescents and young women while the participants expressed strong support for the initiative, highlighting the necessity of social behavioral change and community-driven approaches to ensure sustainability.
While sharing insights about the health care service gap in the districts, Dr. Elisa Mulwani the DHO Budaka District noted that the project provides an opportunity for a comprehensive community package and health care service task reinforcement at the selected health facilities.
“Now we have an in-depth understanding of the project, its coverage and duration. Our team is very excited and ready to work with UYAHF in making this initiative a success, given the fact that we know that the sub counties we are going to work in are disadvantaged without enough resources. I am extremely eager to sign the MoU and we hit the road to implementation.” Please mention the person who said this……
The inception meetings served as a critical platform to introduce UYAHF to the district stakeholders and the project’s objectives, expected outcomes, and implementation framework. The outstanding highlight from the inception process was the collaborative development of tailored action plans for each district, ensuring that interventions align with local healthcare priorities. By fostering partnerships with local governments, healthcare facilities, and community-based organizations, the IEHS Project aims to bridge healthcare gaps and create an enabling environment for equitable service delivery.