Successes

Community Highlights

HCU has trained over 1000 volunteers in more than 275 villages in southwestern Uganda. Our CHWs are enthusiastic and committed; 85% volunteer for longer than five years.

Sixty-five percent of volunteer CHWs are women. They find this work satisfying and empowering.

“I like developing my community and actually seeing it develop through my hard work without pay. This is rare in our village because most development activities are paid. The respect I get from doing this voluntary work makes me happy.” – CHW

Volunteer CHWs play a large role in improving their communities. Some major accomplishments:

  • Fewer child deaths
  • Fewer cases of diarrhea, malaria and malnutrition
  • Higher rates of mosquito net use and vaccination

Find a full CHW report here

CHWs use their knowledge, skills and enthusiasm to develop new projects in health and community development to help their own villages.

Examples of such spin-offs include:

  • 450 savings and loans groups to support community businesses
  • Over 100 livestock projects initiated
  • 536 tippy taps installed (local handwashing device)
  • Transportation and water initiatives - 22 community members trained in construction
  • Improvements in hygiene
  • New opportunities for women to generate income
  • Hundreds of new energy efficient stoves
  • Income generation training

For additional details, see page 68 of HCU report

Health Centre Achievements

“I attended a one-day newborn workshop recently and they told me that when a baby is born, we should put the baby on the mother’s stomach (Kangaroo Care) while waiting for the placenta to deliver. I have been doing that ever since and I have noticed that babies are much healthier…Before, we had cases of hypothermia occurring. This is such a great thing to know how to do!” – Midwife, HC IV

  • Over 60 rural health centre staff trained in newborn and child health
  • 16 health centres painted with colourful, child-friendly cartoons and messages about health education
  • Over 30 health centre staff trained as CHW educators.
  • At least 7 health centres have had water harvesting tanks installed
  • At least 1 health centre has become solar powered
  • 1 health centre made student hostel upgrades
  • 1 brand new health centre constructed in Munyoni Parish (thanks to recognition by local CHWs of high rates of child deaths).
  • Annual competitions between health centres encourage health care staff retraining, good sanitation and water use, and well-maintained supplies

Mbarara University of Science & Technology (MUST) successes

  • More than 100 MUST students have worked with CHWs in HCU communities through student placements and have made remarkable contributions.
  • Three courses in research methods have trained over 60 faculty and postgraduate students.
  • Ugandan and Canadian team members have completed dozens of research projects together, resulting in a number of presentations and publications.
  • HCU has helped MUST gain national (and international) recognition, especially while representing MUST at various exhibitions and conferences
  • MUST’s HCU-affiliated faculty have received international recognition (e.g. Dr. Jerome Kabakyenga, MUST’s Dean of Medicine and HCU’s Project Director - Uganda, is a recipient of the prestigious Teasdale-Corti Fellowship and Global Health Leadership Award from IDRC.