At HAC, we’ve always believed in resilience, in ourselves, the communities we serve, the health workers, our supporters, and our mission. As we step into this new chapter, we find ourselves facing a challenging reality. While we are incredibly proud of the impact we’ve made with the support of the USAID Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) award, we are not certain if this support will continue. This uncertainty has led us to make some tough but necessary decisions.
Adopting to change
We’ve had to create an emergency budget to ensure we continue delivering healthcare to remote communities. This means reducing some of our activities, scaling back certain plans, and focusing on maintaining the heart of our work, the integrated health outreaches that bring essential medical services to hard-to-reach areas.
Though we may have to move at a slower pace, our commitment remains unwavering. We will maintain our current outreach sites and continue expanding to new remote communities, carefully balancing our ambitions with the resources we have.
Moving Forward with Purpose
This period of adjustment doesn’t mean we are standing still. We are actively working to gather support from new avenues. Our team is:
Collecting donations from those who believe in our mission and want to stand with us.
Engaging with foundations and partners who share our vision of accessible healthcare for all.
Strengthening relationships with community health workers and local organizations to sustain our efforts on the ground.
How you can help
Now, more than ever, we invite you to be part of this journey. Whether through a donation, connecting us to potential partners, or simply amplifying our message, every action counts. Together, we can ensure that even during times of uncertainty, healthcare reaches those who need it most.
Thank you for standing by us, believing in our work, and helping us build a healthier, more resilient future for all.
Kaziru Village, situated at a landing site in Bukakkata sub-county, Masaka district, has experienced a remarkable transformation since partnering with Healthcare Access Connect (HAC). At the heart of this story is Naluyima Consolanta, a dedicated businesswoman, Local Council (LC) leader, the district’s secretary for women, and a Community Health Worker.
When HAC Joined Kaziru’s Journey
“In 2020, HAC joined Kaziru Village following a community meeting led by me and other leaders. The community, recognizing the distance to the nearest health facility, agreed that each patient would contribute 2,000 Ugandan shillings to help transport health workers and medicines. This collective effort marked the beginning of a life-changing partnership.” Recalled Naluyima Consolanta.
Since then, HAC has consistently brought healthcare services to Kaziru, offering treatment for cough, fever, high blood pressure, diabetes, HIV testing, and care for pregnant mothers. The impact has been profound, ensuring that essential medical services are within reach.
Facing Challenges Together
“In 2023, Kaziru faced a significant challenge when heavy rains made their unconstructed road muddy and impassable, with deep potholes raising transport costs to 8,000 shillings for a round trip. The community temporarily increased their contribution to 3,000 shillings to keep healthcare services going. Once the road was cleared, they returned to the usual 2,000 shillings,” said Consolanta. Showing resilience and unity.
Fighting Malaria in the Community
Malaria remains a pressing health issue in Kaziru. Despite the distribution of mosquito nets, some community members misuse them for fishing or nursery beds. Given the village’s proximity to forests and many residents work in timber cutting and fishing, mosquito bites are a constant threat. HAC has responded by educating the community on malaria prevention, clearing bushes, draining stagnant water, and correctly using mosquito nets, whether sleeping on a bed or on the floor.
Expanding Healthcare Access
While Kaziru has benefited from HAC’s support, the need for healthcare access extends to neighboring villages like Makunzi and Wakisoko. Though Bukakkata has a Health Center II, its limited services mean these distant communities still struggle to get the care they need. There is a growing hope that HAC’s outreach will soon reach these areas as well.
Empowering Leadership and Personal Growth
Naluyima Consolanta, a dedicated businesswoman, Local Council (LC) leader, the district’s secretary for women, and a Community Health Workerfrom Kaziru Village
Working alongside HAC has strengthened Naluyima Consolanta’s leadership role. She has gained recognition not only within Kaziru but also at health facilities and among organizations. Known affectionately as “Mother Eve,” she is seen as the key link between the village and HAC.
“Even if someone is talking about HAC, they will tell you that ‘Mother Eve’ is the one who connected us to these people,” said Naluyima Consolanta.
This growing trust has positioned Naluyima as a reliable source of health information, especially for the youth who now seek her advice and collect condoms without fear or stigma, a change from the past.
A Brighter Future for Kaziru
Through HAC’s health education programs, Kaziru has made significant strides in improving community health. People now understand how to prevent malaria, protect themselves from HIV, and use condoms responsibly. The shift is also economic; residents have gone from selling mattresses to paying just 2,000 shillings for healthcare, with enough left over to buy juice or salt for the sick.
“Kaziru Village remains deeply grateful for HAC’s continued support. The community hopes that more villages like Makunzi and Wakisoko will soon share in this progress.” Requested Consolata, With steadfast determination and collective effort, the future of healthcare in Kaziru shines bright.
Healthcare Access Connect (HAC)We have started a fundraising campaign to help us continue to provide healthcare services to the most marginalized communities in the months to come. If you would like to support us in this, you can visit https://healthaccessconnect.org/donate
It’s been difficult to keep up with all the news, but I want to talk about what we have seen in Uganda.
Impact on healthcare in Uganda
Here are some key things that have happened:
All US government grant recipients received stop work orders during the last week of January. The public healthcare system in Uganda receives about 50% of its funding from the US government and partners.
Many of the staff of organizations supported by the United States President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) were told to stay at home, and it has not been clear if and how people can distribute antiretroviral medicine (ARVs) to people living with HIV. In Uganda alone, this supports over 1.4 million people living with HIV who are at risk of death within weeks if they do not take their daily medicine. There is no other way to access ARVs in the country. The US government has sent follow-up orders to distribute medicine, but there is still confusion on the ground, and many patients are reaching out to find a way to get their medicine.
There has been an ebola outbreak, and CDC and USAID usually partner with the Government Uganda and other partners to address outbreaks, but funding and disease specialists are not easily mobilized.
So things have been shaken up very abruptly, and it is not yet clear what will happen in the coming months.
Impact on HAC
Health Access Connect (HAC) has been operating for over 10 years, and we received a USAID Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) award in August 2024. Getting this award was a big Win for us, and we have been working hard to hire staff, move around the country, and get a randomized controlled trial (RCT) research project started. This pause order came right as we were getting ready to roll out to many new village outreach sites, and our research partners were preparing to start collecting data. It is not clear if our grant will be able to restart and when.
What we’re doing
We have had to quickly respond to the situation:
We moved all affected staff to 50% work time and salary.
We have halted activities that are funded by our USAID award.
We are focusing on keeping existing outreach clinics going and keeping our capacity high.
We may have to make difficult decisions on staffing and activities in the coming weeks depending on decisions that are made about USAID awards.
We have started a fundraising campaign to help us continue to provide healthcare service to the most marginalized communities in the months to come. If you would like to support us in this, you can visit https://healthaccessconnect.org/donate
We will continue to provide updates. No matter what happens, we will use whatever means we have to ensure that remote communities have access to healthcare. Thank you for your interest and support!
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.
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.
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.
At Health Access Connect (HAC), we’ve always believed in the power of technology to transform healthcare delivery. Our recent project in Masaka, Uganda, demonstrates how digital infrastructure can revolutionize supply chain management for essential health commodities.
Project Overview
In collaboration with Signalytic (S+), we embarked on an ambitious project to improve visibility and management of reproductive health supplies across 15 health facilities in Masaka District and Masaka City. Funded by PATH Digital Square, our initiative aimed to digitize and network health facilities, providing real-time insights into stock levels and improving commodity management.
Key Achievements
Our project delivered remarkable results:
We successfully installed 15 digital health infrastructure systems across lower-level health facilities, including district offices and our warehouse.
We proved that digital systems can effectively operate in environments with unreliable electricity and internet access.
We enabled full spectrum stock data transmission to the national Pharmaceutical Information Portal (PIP), giving national officials unprecedented visibility into stock levels.
By the Numbers
From September 2023 to February 2024, our system processed:
Masaka District: 46,903 inventory transactions
Masaka City: 58,834 inventory transactions
Compared to the previous paper-based system that took an average of 90 days to digitize data, our solution provided near real-time stock information for all commodities.
Challenges and Learning
Our journey wasn’t without obstacles. However, these experiences taught us valuable lessons:
Public sector interventions must align closely with priorities of the Ministry of Health.
Pilot projects must be flexible and prepared for potential shifts in national-level strategies.
Looking Forward
Although the project will not continue to a second phase, we’re proud of the proof of concept we’ve established. The workflows and systems we’ve developed will inform future digital health initiatives in Uganda and potentially beyond.
Our work demonstrates that with patience, collaboration, and technological innovation, we can incrementally improve healthcare supply chain management, ultimately benefiting patients and healthcare providers.
Acknowledgments
We extend our gratitude to PATH Digital Square, USAID, Signalytic, the Masaka District and Masaka City health offices, and the Ministry of Health for their support and collaboration throughout this project.
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.
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
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.
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.
