Uganda

As the implementing partner responsible for leading TCI’s East Africa Accelerator Hub, Jhpiego provides technical assistance to local governments in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda as they implement interventions in family planning and adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health. The goal of TCI NextGen, which builds on the previous TCI initiative, is to increase access to modern contraception for urban poor women. This project is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Institute for Population and Reproductive Health.

Jhpiego, in collaboration with the Johns Hopkins University and Ugandan Ministry of Health, is supporting the development of an integrated mental health system serving people living with HIV (PLHIV) at increased risk of treatment disruption, as well as health care workers providing services to PLHIV in Uganda. Currently, there is only one such approach designed for youth and adults that has been tested in multiple low-and middle-income countries (LMICs): the Common Elements Treatment Approach. This approach is a lay provider-delivered, evidence-based system of care that has been found, through five randomized controlled trials in LMICs, to be clinically effective in reducing a range of mental and behavioral health problems including depression, anxiety, trauma, violence, functional impairment, unhealthy alcohol use and risky behaviors. This project is funded through the Health Resources and Services Administration with American Rescue Plan Act funds designated for the COVID Health Workforce for HIV and Chronic Disease Service Delivery (COVID HW21) global initiative.

With funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration through the University of Washington, Jhpiego was providing technical assistance and support through learning exchanges between HRSA-funded providers in the United States and selected HIV clinics in Uganda. This included a multidisciplinary team of U.S. clinical experts from HRSA’s Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program working with local HIV care providers to support epidemic control efforts, through in‐person and virtual health care facility staff engagement and technical assistance across three Ugandan districts (Jinja, Kayunga and Nebbi). Current activities include documenting the project processes, outcomes, impact, and lessons learned to inform future Skills Sharing Programs in countries of similar contexts.