USAID Uganda Family Planning Activity is a five years (2020-2025) project  being implemented by Pathfinder in partnership with Uganda Protestant Medical Bureau (UPMB). The activity aims to address underlying social, cultural, and structural barriers to family planning access, particularly among adolescents, youth, first-time parents, and low-parity women in 11 districts across Uganda.

Objectives

1. Through leadership and coordination strengthened to support voluntary Family Planning
2. Positive social norms and behaviors enhanced to improve “Healthy Timing and Spacing of Pregnancy (HTSP)
3. Access to quality, voluntary Family Planning increased.

The Fertility Awareness Methods (FAM) and Fertility Awareness (FA) Education project is a partnership between Institute of Reproductive Health (IRH), George University with Uganda Protestant Medical Bureau (UPMB). The one-year (1^st June 2021 to 30^th June 2022) project targets women and men of reproductive age with family planning information and methods.

The project goal is to improve access and utilization of FAM services into UPMBs Local Family Planning (FP) Program. The intended objectives include;

1. Improved coordination of Family Planning including FAM and FP Education at national and sub-national level.
2. Improved capacity of UPMB facilities to integrate FAM and FA Education into local FP programs.
3. Strengthened advocacy for FAM and FA Education services
4. Enhanced use of icyclebeads mobile app to document and report on FAM outcomes.

The project will be implemented in 3 districts in central region targeting 8 health facilities.

The project is working with Health Workers, VHTs and Religious Leaders to implement the project in the above facilities, communities and Churches.

The Development Initiative for Northern Uganda (DINU) – Livelihood Enhancement for West Nile and Acholi (LEWA), is a development project funded by Uganda Government – Office of the Prime Minister with support from European Union (EU). The project is implemented in a consortium led by Lutheran World Federation a long side Uganda Protestant Medical Bureau (UPMB), Danish Church Aid (DCA), and Mukwano Group of Companies.

The overall objective of project is  to  improve Livelihoods in West Nile and Northern region through integrated complementary interventions of increased production, marketing, nutrition, and family planning programs.

UPMB contributes to Strong Nutrition and Family Planning Interventions across the five project implementing Districts of Arua, Maracha, Koboko, Madi-Okollo, Yumbe, and only Family planning in four districts of Obongi, Lamwo, Moyo and Adjumani . The project shall be implemented for thirty-six months (10 January 2020 to 31 December 2022).

The WASH-IPC   was a 7 months project (31^st August 2020 – 31^st March 2021) implemented in UPMB health facilities across 5 districts of Kabale  , Kisoro , Kanungu ,    Rukungiri and  Kasese 4) in 9 Sites (Nyakibale Hospital, Kisiizi Hospital, Bwindi Hospital, Rugarama Hospital,  St Paul’s HCIV,  Rwesande HCIV, Kilembe Mines Hospital, Kagando Hospital & Mutolere).

The project targeted health facility teams including IPC Teams, or Quality, OPD and ER teams of 5-10 within networks of facilities, connected through a hub. The project has four major objectives highlighted below

• Support sub-national stakeholders, facility OICs and relevant committees or staff to achieve key quality metrics related to COVID-19 IPC for facility safety
• Provide targeted, lean learning for priority competencies
• Provide virtual peer learning and performance support
• Measure and share facility level quality IPC indicator progress

The key activities under this project were

• Activity 1: Facilitate rapid improvements in HCF infection prevention readiness and COVID-19 patient management to maintain essential services and protect staff & patients
• Activity 2:  Support hub-spoke mentorship platforms to continue and sustain progress
• Activity 3: Build sub-national government capacity to sustain support services, monitoring, enforcement of infection prevention standards in healthcare facilities

Key achievements included

WASH-IPC Baseline Assessment for the 9 project sites: Only 2 facilities of St. Kalori Lwanga Hospital, Nyakibaare and Kagando Hospital scored above 70% though they didn’t have active IPC and QI committees; UPMB in collaboration with JHPEIGO intervened & closed gaps

Dissemination of WASH-IPC Baseline Results to Stakeholders: At all the 9 project sites and the HUMC representatives, District Health Officers, Secretary for health, District IPC focal persons, officers responsible for environmental health as well as district MCH focal persons _ Action Plans were developed and implemented by the different stake holders.

Functionalization of IPC & QI Committees for all Project sites: Supported 9 project sites to constitute their facility specific IPC and QI committees, trained the teams on their Terms of references, supported the teams to form projects and schedules for meetings; action plans were developed and implemented  by the different facilities

Minor repairs for  basic WASH-IPC infrastructure: Supported the refurbishment of key areas such IPC/WASH in 3 project sites including St. Francis hospital Mutolere (Toilet near the gate), Rwesande HC IV (handwash facilities _ sinks & taps) and Kagando Hospital (toilet & bathroom at Maternity).

District Performance review on WASH-IPC : Conducted performance review meetings at the 5 districts of Kabale, Rukungiri, Kanungu, Kasese and Kisoro; UPMB got slots to discuss facility performance during the extended District Health Team meetings and District council meetings. The meetings involved DHT members, health facility staff, secretary for health, and partners. Action Plans were developed and implemented by the different stakeholders. Through these meetings, the districts re-affirmed the existence and functionality of the district IPC and QI teams in the support supervision function