Frances Itiang

#10yearsofHAC #Closingthedistance #Accesstohealthcare #healthforall #Joinus #donate #CHW #LCA #Healthoutreaches #remoteareas #FamilyPlanning #Medicyle

From reaching new milestones to celebrating our 10th anniversary, this year has been a testament to the power of innovation, and unwavering dedication to bringing healthcare access to remote communities. Here are the highlights of what we accomplished:

1. Reached Over 150 Outreach Sites and Over 100,000 Patient Visits.

In 2024, HAC expanded its reach to 150 outreach sites, serving over 100,000 patient visits in some of the most hard-to-reach areas in Uganda. This milestone highlights the impact of our integrated outreach model, which brings essential healthcare services to communities that would otherwise lack access.

2. Growing Our Team to 35 Staff Members

Our team grew to 35 dedicated staff members, reflecting the growth and evolution of our organization. This expansion strengthens our capacity to innovate, coordinate, and implement programs that make a tangible difference in the lives of people in remote communities.

3. Receiving the USAID DIV Award

This year, we were honoured to receive the USAID Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) award, a prestigious recognition of our innovative approach to healthcare access. This award will support HAC in scaling its proven model and conducting rigorous research to measure our impact through a Randomized Control Trial.

4. Celebrating 10 Years of HAC

2024 marked a decade of HAC’s journey in transforming healthcare access. From our humble beginnings with the Medicycle project to serving over 107,000 patient visits across Uganda, our 10th anniversary was a moment to celebrate our achievements and renew our commitment to our communities.

Looking Ahead

As we celebrate these milestones, we look forward to an even more impactful 2025. With plans to expand to 100 new communities, conduct groundbreaking research, and bring our model to other African countries, HAC is ready to continue its mission of closing the distance to healthcare for all.

Support Our Mission: https://www.healthaccessconnect.org/donate

Thank you to all our supporters, partners, and team members who made 2024 a remarkable year. Together, we can achieve even greater milestones in the years to come.

#10yearsofHAC #Closingthedistance #Accesstohealthcare #healthforall #Joinus #donate #CHW #LCA #Healthoutreaches #remoteareas #FamilyPlanning #Medicyle

As Health Access Connect (HAC) looks ahead to 2025, we are excited to share our ambitious plans to continue transforming healthcare access in remote and marginalised communities. With a decade of experience and a proven model for sustainable change, we are ready to expand our impact and bring essential healthcare services to even more people. Here’s what’s next:

Reach 200 Communities in 2025

By the end of 2025, HAC will have reached 200 communities. This expansion is part of our commitment to ensure that no one is left behind when accessing quality healthcare. Our approach of organizing communities and partnering with local health workers will be critical in achieving this milestone.

Research

HAC is collaborating with Innovation for Poverty Action and leading researchers from Ohio State University, Emory University, Boston University, and Makerere/IDI on a groundbreaking Randomized Control Trial (RCT). This research, supported by USAID DIV, will evaluate the impact of HAC’s healthcare outreach programs on the lives of people in remote communities.

The study will compare communities receiving HAC’s services with those that do not, assessing outcomes in three phases:

• Baseline: Initial data collection to understand starting conditions.
• Midline: Analysis of progress midway through the study.
• Endline: Final assessment to measure long-term impact.

Expanding to Another African Country

After a decade of impactful work in Uganda, HAC is ready to take its mission across borders. In 2025, we plan to expand to Tanzania, Malawi, and Zambia. Like Uganda, these countries have remote communities struggling to access healthcare services. HAC’s next steps include:

• Conducting feasibility studies to understand local healthcare challenges.
• Building networks and partnerships with local stakeholders.
• Collaborating with Ministries of Health to directly deliver services or provide technical assistance.

Enhancing Outreach Services

HAC is committed to improving and increasing the number of services provided during healthcare outreaches.

Join Us on This Journey

HAC’s 2025 plan is ambitious, but it’s grounded in a decade of success and a deep commitment to making healthcare accessible for all. We invite you to be part of this transformative journey. Your support can help us expand our reach, improve lives, and bring sustainable healthcare solutions to those who need them most.

Support HAC Today: https://www.healthaccessconnect.org/donate

Written by Frances Itiang,

Communication & Development Officer

#10yearsofHAC #Closingthedistance #Accesstohealthcare #healthforall #Joinus #donate #CHW #LCA #Healthoutreaches #remoteareas #FamilyPlanning #Medicyle

When we first began our journey 10 years ago, we started with a puzzle: Why are people in remote communities suffering, despite the availability of free medication at health facilities? Why can’t they access the medical services they desperately need?

The answer was complex, rooted in challenges like long distances to health facilities, impassable terrain, water bodies, and the high cost or lack of transport. For many, the nearest health centre could be a 6–10 km walk, often under the scorching sun or heavy rain, a journey unimaginable for the sick, pregnant women, or parents with young children.

A Decade of Impact

At HAC (Health Access Closer), we have dedicated the past decade to solving this puzzle. With support from friends, donors, and partnerships with government health facilities, we have:

• Reached over 150 remote communities across 14 districts in Uganda.
• Supported more than 2,600 outreach clinics,
• Served over 105,000 patients, providing essential healthcare services ranging from family planning and immunisations to treatment for chronic illnesses and general health concerns.

Through initiatives like the Medicycle program, using motorcycles to transport health workers and medical supplies to villages. We are #closingthedistance between communities and life-saving services.

The Challenge is Far From Over

While we’ve made significant strides, the need remains immense. Across Uganda and beyond, countless communities still struggle to access healthcare. Whether it’s rugged landscapes, water bodies, flooded roads, or economic hardships, these barriers continue to deny many their right to health.

Join Us in Closing the Gap

We cannot do this alone. The progress we’ve achieved has been possible thanks to the generous support of individuals, Grant Markers, and health partners who share our vision of a world where healthcare is a right, not a privilege.

As we celebrate 10 years of HAC, we invite you to join us in this journey. Whether through funding, technical assistance, or partnerships, your support can help us bring hope and health to even more communities. Together, we can:

• Expand our reach to new communities and even other African countries.
• Empower communities to sustainably access healthcare services.

Be Part of the Solution

Every contribution counts, and every partnership matters. Let’s continue to close the distance and bring healthcare closer to those who need it most. Visit our website, follow our journey, and consider donating or partnering with HAC. Together, we can transform lives and create a healthier future for all.

#Closingthedistance #Accesstohealthcare #healthforall #Joinus #donate #CHW #LCA #Healthoutreaches #remoteareas #FamilyPlanning

Namazzi Annet, a 17-year-old from Mikomago, Kyannamukaaka, Masaka District, whose life took a negative turn due to limited access to family planning services. Her community, like many rural areas, suffers from a lack of affordable, nearby health services and is widespread misinformation. This left Annet vulnerable, like many girls her age, to early pregnancy and school dropout. Yet, local outreach initiatives could have given her access to contraception and health education that could have enabled her to control her reproductive health and stay at school.

“I first wanted to use family planning when I was 15 and in Senior One,” Annet shares. “But I was afraid. People around me warned that using these methods would cause fibroids, or worse, make me infertile.”

After failing to access family planning services and information, Annet unfortunately conceived and was forced to drop out of school. She is now married with one child and she wishes she had received the contraceptive, she would still be at school.

Despite early fears that family planning could cause infertility or fibroids, Annet persisted. When she heard about a community HAC outreach on the radio, she walked three kilometres to attend. The outreach not only provided her with a free, three-year contraceptive method but also important education, helping her understand the truth about birth control. Annet shared how the outreach saved her from travelling long distances and paying high transport fees. This will also allow Annet to plan and live a better life. 

Annet’s struggle mirrors that of millions of adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa. Globally, over 218 million women in low- and middle-income countries have unmet contraceptive needs​(United Nations Population Fund). In Sub-Saharan Africa, 23% of adolescent girls aged 15-19 face similar barriers to accessing contraception​(United Nations Population Fund), primarily due to distance from health facilities, high transport costs, and societal stigma. In Uganda, the fertility rate remains high at 5.4 children per woman, and 34% of girls become mothers before the age of 18​(United Nations Population Fund).

Misinformation and cultural taboos create a hostile environment for adolescents seeking reproductive health services. Like Annet, many young women are warned that contraception can lead to infertility or other health problems, perpetuating early pregnancies and limiting life opportunities.

For young people like Annet, outreach programs are vital. They provide free, accessible services and health education, challenging misconceptions and encouraging informed decision-making. Such programs also help adolescents avoid the high costs and logistical challenges associated with accessing distant health facilities.

Annet’s story is a testament to the transformative power of education and accessible healthcare. With continued support, young women like her can overcome barriers and pursue a future filled with opportunity and hope. By improving access to reliable family planning services, Uganda and Sub-Saharan Africa can empower more girls to make informed choices, break cycles of early pregnancy, and create brighter futures for themselves

Written by Frances Itiang

#Closingthedistance #Accesstohealthcare #healthforall #Joinus #donate #CHW #LCA #Healthoutreaches #remoteareas

Accessing healthcare services in hard-to-reach communities is a daunting challenge, particularly for women who bear the brunt of these hardships. The story of Katushabe Dorothy, a resident of Lwabaswa in Kalangala district, vividly illustrates the struggles many women face. Katushabe needed a family planning method to avoid another early pregnancy, especially after her husband left her. With no money, she relied on her community to raise funds. Despite their support, the journey to the health facility remained fraught with difficulties.

The cheapest boat required a fee of 20,000 shillings, a substantial amount for someone in her position. Even after securing the boat fare, there was still the motorcycle fee to contend with once the boat landed. A friend came to her aid, providing the 3,000 shillings needed for the motorcycle ride. Upon reaching the health facility, Katushabe faced a long line of patients. She waited for six hours to be attended to while worrying about her three children at home who needed her care. Despite the exhaustion and anxiety, she finally received the five-year Family Planning method she needed. However, it was late, and she had nowhere to sleep. A compassionate nurse allowed her to sleep in a ward until morning. Returning home required further assistance. The local council chairperson of Lwabaswa mobilized the community once again to gather funds for her transport back.

Katushabe’s story highlights the severe limitations and obstacles women in remote areas face when seeking essential healthcare services. This emphasises the importance of accessible healthcare and the critical role that organizations like HAC play in transforming lives. Since HAC started conducting outreaches with support from Bergstrom and other supporters of these vulnerable communities, women in these communities now have reliable access to family planning methods, immunization services for their babies, and other vital health services. Katushabe’s life changed dramatically; her child is now seven, and she can focus on providing a better future for her family without the constant fear of an unplanned pregnancy.

As Katushabe expressed, “I thank HAC because as a single mother, I wouldn’t want to produce again.” Her heartfelt gratitude reflects the significant impact that accessible healthcare has on improving the quality of life for women in hard-to-reach communities.

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Written by Frances Itiang

#Closingthedistance #Accesstohealthcare #healthforall #Joinus #donate #CHW #LCA #Healthoutreaches #remoteareas

In our ongoing quest to improve healthcare delivery in underserved areas, we have always sought innovative and effective methods to engage communities. We relied on the Village Health Team (VHT) model for years to mobilize and organize communities for clinic outreaches. While the VHT model provided significant benefits, we recognized the need for an approach that allowed for more direct contact with community members. This realization led to the development and implementation of the Local Community Association (LCA) model, which has proven to be highly effective in enhancing our outreach efforts.

The LCA model brings community members together in a structured manner, fostering a sense of unity and collective responsibility. The LCA model encourages direct interaction between healthcare providers and community members. This direct contact facilitates better communication, trust-building, and a deeper understanding of the community’s unique needs and challenges. By bringing community members together, the LCA model also fosters a stronger sense of community spirit and cooperation, which is crucial for the success of health initiatives.

One of the standout benefits of the LCA model is its ability to facilitate easy mobilization. When community members are organized into local associations, it becomes simpler to disseminate information, coordinate activities, and rally participation for clinic outreaches. This streamlined mobilization process ensures that health campaigns are well-attended and that important health messages reach every corner of the community. Additionally, resource mobilization becomes more efficient under the LCA model. Community members, now part of a cohesive group, can pool resources, share responsibilities, and support each other in accessing healthcare services.

Moreover, the LCA model promotes community ownership and participation, which are key to the sustainability of any health initiative. When communities take ownership of their health programs, they are more likely to be invested in their success and longevity. The LCA model empowers community members to participate actively in decision-making processes, planning, and execution of health activities. This participatory approach not only enhances the relevance and effectiveness of health interventions but also builds local capacity and resilience.

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Written by Frances Itiang

#Closingthedistance #Accesstohealthcare #healthforall #Joinus #donate #CHW #digitalstockmanagement

In the heart of Masaka, Uganda, Health Access Connect (HAC) is spearheading a groundbreaking initiative to revolutionize stock management for Health Center II facilities. This initiative is to improve medical stock management in Health Centre II. This is to address some of the challenges in health supply chain systems like slow adaptation and use of electric logistic information systems, and the knowledge gap as mentioned in Lugada, E., Komakech, H., Ochola, I. et al. Health supply chain system in Uganda: current issues, structure, performance, and implications for systems strengthening. J of Pharm Policy and Pract 15, 14 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40545-022-00412-4

Under the Digital Square project in partnership with Signalytic, HAC has installed solar-powered  S+ machines that eliminate the need for constant battery replacements and costly energy expenses. These machines have been strategically installed at various key locations, including the HAC Masaka office, the District Health Office (DHO), and in 13 Health Center II facilities across Masaka.

The impact of these S+ machines on the healthcare landscape in Masaka has been nothing short of transformative. Josephine, a dedicated midwife at Kitunga Health Center II facility, lauds the efficacy of the S+ machine paired with a tablet interface in streamlining stock management processes. She emphasizes how the system enables them to effortlessly track stock levels, identify drugs nearing expiration, and pinpoint instances of both overstocking and stockouts

One of the most significant advantages offered by this digital solution is its ability to facilitate seamless communication between healthcare facilities and district authorities. Gone are the days of laborious phone calls and physical visits to the district office to request stock replenishment. With the simple touch of a button on the tablet interface, healthcare workers can transmit stock requests directly to the district, enabling efficient and timely responses without disrupting daily operations.

Beyond its immediate benefits for individual healthcare facilities, the implementation of this digital stock management system holds promise for broader systemic improvements in healthcare delivery. By providing real-time visibility into stock levels and consumption patterns, HAC and its partners are empowering district authorities with valuable data-driven insights to optimize procurement, distribution, and resource allocation strategies.

To realise more impact our team diligently oversees the utilization of this system, and to ensure proficiency, regular visits to these facilities are conducted to offer mentorship sessions aimed at bridging any knowledge disparities. Through these interactions, the HAC  not only fosters expertise but also cultivates a culture of continuous improvement, enriching the collective understanding of the system’s intricacies and potential.

Moreover, the introduction of such innovative technologies underscores a broader commitment to harnessing the power of digital solutions to address healthcare challenges in resource-constrained settings. By leveraging solar-powered devices and intuitive digital interfaces, HAC is not only enhancing stock management efficiency but also promoting sustainability and resilience within the healthcare infrastructure of Masaka.

Looking ahead, the success of initiatives like the digital medical stock management system implemented by HAC serves as a beacon of hope for healthcare systems worldwide. As the global community continues to grapple with the complexities of delivering quality healthcare to all,  initiatives like these exemplify the transformative potential of technology in driving positive change and advancing health equity.

In Masaka, Uganda, Health Access Connect is not merely improving stock management for Health Center II facilities—it is paving the way for a future where technology catalyzes holistic healthcare transformation, one community at a time.