Health Access Connect

How HAC Outreaches are Improving Health Outcomes in Bugiri District, Eastern Uganda

“My name is Namenya Shafic , a resident of Nakawa Village in Buwunga Sub-county, Bugiri District.

Before Health Access Connect (HAC) began conducting community outreaches, accessing healthcare was a major challenge.

The nearest health facility is in Buwunga, and travelling there could cost more than UGX 10,000. During the rainy season, flooded roads often made the journey impossible, leaving many people without the care they needed.

The outreach services have brought healthcare much closer to our community. Families can now access treatment without the burden of long-distance travel, and this has made a significant difference in people's lives.

One of the biggest changes has been in maternal and child health. Before the outreaches, many parents struggled to take their children for routine immunization because of the cost and distance to the health facility.

Today, more children are receiving their vaccines, and parents are actively bringing them to the outreach clinics.

Pregnant women can also access antenatal services and essential medicines closer to home.

We are grateful to Health Access Connect for bringing healthcare closer to us. Our hope is that these outreach services continue so that more families can access timely care without worrying about distance or transport costs.”

Last week, we conducted an integrated outreach at Kabuyoga Outreach Site in Lwengo District, in partnership with Lwengo HC IV, bringing essential healthcare services closer to the community.

The outreach served over 60 patients, highlighting the importance of taking healthcare beyond facility walls and reaching communities where access remains a challenge.

Every outreach strengthens healthcare access by reducing the time, distance, and costs communities face when seeking care.

"We Used to Travel over 10 Kilometres for Healthcare. Now It Comes to Us." — Kibenge Aaron, Luwero District

"My name is Kibenge Aaron , and I serve as the community representative for Health Access Connect (HAC) in Masinga Village, Kikyusa Sub-county, Luweero District.

Before Health Access Connect began conducting monthly outreaches in our community, accessing healthcare was a major challenge. The nearest government health facilities are between 10 and 15 kilometres away, and many families could not afford the UGX 15,000 needed for transport.

As a result, many people delayed seeking treatment or went without care altogether.
The monthly outreach clinics have brought healthcare much closer to our community. This has made healthcare more accessible, especially for older people and those living with chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and hernias.

The community has embraced the programme, and our local committee works closely with Health Access Connect to mobilize residents whenever the outreach team is scheduled to visit.

Knowing that healthcare is available at the end of every month has given people confidence that they can receive timely care when they need it."

Bringing healthcare closer to communities in Mpigi District

We recently conducted an integrated community outreach in Jalamba, Mpigi District in partnership with Buwama Health Centre III, bringing essential healthcare services closer to the people .

A total of 50 patients accessed healthcare during the outreach, reducing the need for long and costly journeys to health facilities.

Community-based healthcare helps ensure timely access to treatment, strengthens the connection between communities and government health services, and moves us closer to a future where quality healthcare is accessible to everyone.

Every outreach is another step toward closing the healthcare access gap.

The experience an adolescent has at a health facility can shape whether they seek care again or whether they encourage others to do the same.

Yet many young people continue to face stigma, misinformation, and cultural misconceptions when accessing sexual and reproductive health services.

Through our Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) Program, we continue to create safe spaces where adolescents can openly discuss these issues, ask questions, and receive accurate, evidence-based information through our school and community dialogues.

Reducing stigma isn't a one-time intervention. It requires ongoing conversations, trusted health workers, and communities that support young people in making informed decisions about their health.

📢 We Are Hiring: Human Resource (HR) Consultant

We seeking an experienced Human Resource Consultant to provide short-term, hands-on support in strengthening our HR systems, policies, and people-management processes.

The consultant will work with our team to improve areas including recruitment, employee records management, HR policy development, payroll support, performance management, staff welfare, and compliance.

📍 Location: Kampala, Uganda
📌 Engagement: Short-term Consultancy

🔗 To apply and view the full job description , visit our website: https://www.healthaccessconnect.org/jobs/

“Healthcare Is Now Within Our Reach”

- Nakazzi Betty, Resident of Bufumbe Village, Najja Sub-county, Buikwe District

"Before Health Access Connect (HAC) began conducting monthly outreaches in our community, accessing healthcare was a major challenge. The nearest health facility was far away, and transport alone could cost up to UGX 10,000.

Although there were small private clinics nearby, they often lacked diagnostic services and adequate medicines, meaning many people received incomplete treatment and continued to struggle with illness.

The monthly outreach services have transformed access to healthcare in our village. Community members can receive consultations, testing, treatment, and medicines close to home. The outreach serves everyone, the elderly, children, and adults and the health workers treat us with kindness and respect.

Because healthcare is now available within the community, families no longer have to spend large amounts of money travelling long distances to seek treatment. Instead, they can access quality healthcare and return home the same day.

We are grateful to Health Access Connect for bringing these services closer to us. Our hope is that one day we can have a permanent outreach site in the village."

Bringing healthcare closer to communities in Bukomansimbi District

We recently conducted an integrated community outreach in Kisaka, Bukomansimbi District, in partnership with Kitanda Health Centre III, bringing essential health services closer to the community.

A total of 48 people accessed care during the outreach, highlighting the importance of delivering healthcare where people live. Through community-based healthcare , we help reduce barriers to care, promote early treatment, and improve health outcomes.

Health Access Connect helps link remote communities to healthcare by bringing Government health workers & medicines to their village on a monthly basis.

Through these mobile outreach clinics , people access essential health services like anti-retroviral therapy, maternal health services, malaria treatment, child checkups, family planning, antenatal services, nutrition, and adolescent sexual and reproductive health services .

"Bringing Healthcare Closer Saved My Child's Life."
— Nakamya Madina, Luwero District, Central Uganda.

" My name is Nakamya Madina. I am a Village Health Team (VHT) member and the chairperson of our community group in Kibiriizi Parish, Bamunanika Sub-county, Luwero District.

Before Health Access Connect began bringing healthcare services to our parish, many families had to travel five to six miles to reach the nearest health facility. For many, the cost of transport meant delaying treatment until it was too late.

Today, our community can access HIV testing, TB screening, treatment for common illnesses, and other essential health services close to home.

More young people are confidently coming for HIV testing because the services are free, accessible, and stigma free.

An outreach also saved my own child's life. After health workers examined her during an outreach clinic, they immediately referred us to a higher-level hospital.
She received the care she needed and returned home safely just two days later. I truly believe that quick referral saved her life.

We are deeply grateful to Health Access Connect and the dedicated health workers from Bamunanika Health Centre III for bringing these outreaches to our community."

Bringing healthcare closer to communities in Gomba District

Last week, we conducted an outreach in Kyanika, Gomba District, in partnership with Ngomanene Health Centre III, bringing healthcare services closer to the community.

During the outreach, 57 patients were reached with essential health services .

These efforts demonstrate the importance of collaboration between health facilities, communities, and healthcare partners in building stronger, more accessible health systems.

At Health Access Connect, we remain committed to advancing last-mile healthcare delivery and ensuring that every community has a pathway to the care they need.