Uganda has seen improvements in health outcomes over the past two decades, including reductions in maternal and under-five mortality by approximately 50%. These improvements are largely due to increased immunizations, antenatal care, and better access to healthcare facilities. However, challenges remain: a significant percentage of children still lack adequate healthcare, and health facilities often struggle with inadequate infrastructure, medicine shortages, and unreliable electricity. Additionally, high rates of malnutrition, disease, and preventable mortality continue to impact children, with 29% of children under five suffering from chronic malnutrition (stunting), which severely affects their physical and mental development.
The last two decades have brought some important improvements in health indicators in Uganda. Maternal and under-5 mortality have decreased by around 50 percent, thanks to widespread immunization campaigns, increased antenatal care and better access to health facilities. However, these rates remain very high and most children still do not have adequate healthcare. Health facilities are often in dilapidated condition and run out of drugs and electricity. Services for babies born prematurely or with complications are often not available. 29 percent of Ugandan children under five years old suffer from chronic malnutrition, known as stunting, which prevents their mental and physical development. Despite some progress, millions of children are being left behind.
Improving Maternal and Newborn Child Health (MNCH). Agrifund promotes maternal and newborn health by providing antenatal and postnatal care, supporting safe childbirth practices, and ensuring that healthcare facilities are equipped to handle complications. we also educate mothers on essential health practices to improve newborn survival rates.
Saving Newborn Lives. Through initiatives targeting neonatal care, Agrifund focuses on reducing infant mortality by training healthcare providers and equipping health centers to care for preterm or underweight babies. We also provide basic newborn care kits in underserved regions to support mothers and infants immediately after birth.
Promoting Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH). Agrifund works to reduce rates of adolescent pregnancy and improve SRH awareness by offering SRH education and resources. These initiatives include life skills training and mentorship programs, particularly in areas where early pregnancy rates are high, like the Acholi sub-region, Karamoja sub region, teso Sub region, WestNile Sub region among others.
Good nutrition is an essential foundation for health and development, yet malnutrition continues to be the world most serious health problem and the single biggest contributor to child mortality. Agrifund International has made addressing malnutrition a top priority. Our goal is to ensure that mothers and children are well nourished across our programming.
Our Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) programmes provide malnutrition screening, food and nutritional support to young children and their mothers. In the refugee settlements we run Mother & Baby Areas (MBAs) which promote breastfeeding and good nutrition among pregnant and lactating women and caregivers for children under two years old. Practicing optimal IYCF, including breastfeeding and complementary feeding, is the most effective way to reduce child malnutrition in emergency settings. We have helped severely malnourished children make a full recovery. We’ve fought against infection and disease in Karamoja sub region training community health workers and families in prevention, and providing bed nets to protect children from malaria as they sleep. We’ve been courageous against injustice by challenging causes of early pregnancy in Acholi sub region and by enabling access to essential health services for children.
We see children dying from preventable issues because of violence, isolation, and powerlessness. We want hope to be restored. We want to promote good hygiene and nutrition for children. We want to strengthen health systems to serve vulnerable people.
Malnutrition remains a critical issue in Uganda, contributing significantly to child mortality. Poor nutrition weakens children’s immune systems, increases susceptibility to infections, and hinders cognitive development. Particularly concerning is the situation in rural and conflict-affected regions, such as Karamoja, where food insecurity and limited access to health services exacerbate malnutrition rates.
Agrifund’s Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) programs are vital in addressing malnutrition. These programs provide: Malnutrition screening and treatment, Food and nutritional support for young children and mothers, including supplementary feeding for malnourished children and Mother and Baby Areas (MBAs) in refugee settlements to promote breastfeeding and educate on child nutrition.
Agrifund has supported recovery for severely malnourished children through interventions such as training families on nutrition, providing food supplements, and treating related infections. This work includes promoting optimal IYCF practices like exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and timely introduction of nutritious complementary foods.
Health System Strengthening. Agrifund is committed to sustainable, long-term improvements by strengthening Uganda’s health systems. They focus on:
- Health Facility Capacity Building: Agrifund supports health facilities with essential resources and infrastructure improvements, ensuring better service delivery.
- Community Engagement: we work with local health committees to build capacity and foster leadership.
- Policy Advocacy: Agrifund participates in national policy dialogues and technical working groups to advocate for health improvements at a systemic level.
Prevention of Infectious Diseases and Malaria. In malaria-endemic areas, Agrifund provides bed nets to protect children and families from malaria, especially in vulnerable regions like Karamoja. This effort is supplemented by community training on hygiene practices to prevent the spread of infections.