Living Goods was proud to be a sponsor of the 3rd National Conference on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, held at Speke Resort Munyonyo, Kampala. With a theme focused on Building Resilient Health Systems for Disease Prevention through Strengthening Community Health Workers, the conference brought together prominent figures from the Ugandan Government, international health organizations, and health advocates, all dedicated to shaping a stronger future for community health in Uganda and across Africa.

Day 1: Paving the Way for Resilient Health Systems

The opening day of the conference set a strong foundation with a high-level panel led by notable leaders in the health sector, including Anne Christine Namayanja Sensasi, Country Director of Living Goods Uganda. During the discussion, panelists underscored the critical role that digital tools play in scaling community health efforts. There was a unified call for greater coordination and alignment of resources with Ministry of Health plans, aiming to prevent duplicative efforts and instead create a synergized, effective approach. Key messages from the day included the need for one plan, one budget, and one monitoring and evaluation framework—a coordinated approach that can unlock the full potential of community health in Africa.

Day 2: Advancing Community Health with the BIRCH Project

On Day 2, the focus shifted to progress on the Building Integrated Readiness for Community Health (BIRCH) Project. In partnership with the Ministry of Health, Living Goods is working under the BIRCH Project to enhance community health programming across Uganda and 10 other countries. Dr. Meddy Rutayisire, Senior Technical Advisor at MoH, led the presentation, emphasizing BIRCH’s role in streamlining community health strategies, operational plans, and mapping health investments.

The collaboration highlights Living Goods’ commitment to supporting the Ministry in building sustainable community health systems by strengthening seven foundational elements out of the fourteen targeted in the BIRCH Project. This initiative, funded by The Global Fund with technical support from Africa Frontline First (AFF) and Last Mile Health, aims to establish a framework where community health workers (CHWs) have the tools, support, and structure they need to drive real change.

In addition, the session introduced the Community Health Worker Maturity Assessment tool—a framework designed to help countries assess and improve their community health programs. The tool identifies gaps within the system and provides a clear, evidence-based path for improvement, aligning with each country’s long-term health plans.

Day 3: Charting the Path Forward

Amy Kakiza, Living Goods’ Director of Advocacy and Strategic Partnerships in Uganda, moderated the opening panel on Day 3. Representatives from the African Union, Uganda’s Ministry of Health, Makerere University’s School of Public Health, UNICEF, and local government entities shared strategies for integrating health service delivery directly at the community level. Panelists discussed the importance of investing in training, digitization, support supervision, supplies, and incentives for CHWs to ensure sustainable, impactful, and efficient health services.

Living Goods is committed to a holistic approach that includes training CHWs, digitizing health interventions, and advocating for policies reinforcing these efforts. The conference affirmed that with continued partnership and investment, Uganda can build a resilient health system that will deliver essential health services to all, from the grassroots up.

The 3rd National Conference on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention has been an inspiring reminder of the power of collaboration and the need to focus on sustainable, community-driven health solutions. At Living Goods, we are dedicated to this mission and look forward to making lasting strides in partnership with the Ministry of Health and our stakeholders.