In Uganda, PSI and its local partner organization, the Programme for Accessible Health and Communication (PACE), leverage markets so that consumers can access the information and services they want, wherever they are, including last mile delivery of malaria and HIV information and services.
Plot 3 – 5 New Port Bell Road
Block B, 6th floor
UAP Nakawa Business Park
Kampala, Uganda
Phone: + 256-700-542-322
info@psiug.org
PSI Uganda, which was re-established in 2017, complements the efforts of the Ministry of Health in Uganda in the areas of sexual and reproductive health and maternal and child health. Using PSI’s market development approach and targeted social behavior change, PSI Uganda works to shape the health market and strengthen the public and private health sector across the country.
Established in 2009, the Programme for Accessible Health and Communication (PACE), is a local Ugandan organization and PSI network member which works to complement the efforts of the Government of Uganda in the areas of maternal health, HIV/AIDS control among key and priority populations, tuberculosis and malaria. Using targeted social behavior change, PACE works to link consumers to care and influence policies to improve the health market for Ugandan consumers.
In 2018, PSI Uganda and PACE provided 1,542,024 years of healthy life for Ugandans, including:
1,822,375
years of protection against unintended pregnancy for Ugandan couples
39,281
military personnel with HIV prevention messages
3,896
lapsed HIV-positive clients to care
1,666 health workers
to monitor insecticide-treated mosquito nets and malaria prevalence
25,000
comprehensive clean delivery kits
PSI Uganda works through its ProFam network of franchised health clinics and public sector health facilities to expand access to contraceptive choice and post-abortion care with provider mentorship and training. PSI Uganda also distributes free and socially marketed health products, especially contraception, at health facilities and pharmacies.
PSI Uganda has partnered with Viamo and Airtel Uganda to provide an on-demand call service, 161, which consumers can call to access information about their sexual and reproductive health.
PSI Uganda is working with the Kampala City Council Authority and Makerere University School of Public Health to implement a learning project that assesses health provider referral pathways for Kampala’s urban poor. The project will test innovations aimed at improving maternal and newborn health outcomes for urban populations.
PACE is developing a targeted HIV prevention strategy with the Ugandan People Defense Forces for the military and its associated communities, which includes launching a condom brand called “Ulinzi.” To reduce HIV infections among adolescent girls and young women around the military barracks, PACE uses USAID’s DREAMS package to ensure they remain HIV negative.
PACE is utilizing established community structures and a referral system with built-in call and text reminders to urge past HIV clients or those who have missed appointments to follow up with their providers. The project ultimately aims to improve adherence to antiretroviral therapy in high-risk populations and end the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Uganda.
Over a 30-month period, PACE is measuring trends in ownership, use and condition of insecticide-treated mosquito nets in Ugandan households. Findings from the study will inform the Ministry of Health’s distribution plan for the nets, with the goal of ending malaria in Uganda.
