The Ugandan Government, through the Health Ministry, has partnered with the Global Livingston Institute (GLI) to combat non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the country. This four-year partnership, valued at USD 1.36 million, will focus on the districts of Kabale, Sembabule, Koboko, and Lira city. The initiative will also extend to Ghana at the African level.
Dr. Frank Mugabe, the Principal Medical Officer in the Department of Non-Communicable Diseases, and Andrew Nangoli, Programs Coordinator for GLI, highlighted the project’s aim: to conduct widespread testing for Diabetes and Cardiovascular Diseases (Di-CARD), research their causes, and educate the public on prevention strategies.
This initiative follows a decade-long study revealing that 3 out of 10 adults in Uganda test positive for hypertension, and 5 out of 100 for diabetes.
During the launch at Kamukira Health Centre IV in Kabale Municipality, Godfrey Nyakahuma, the Kabale Resident District Commissioner, represented Dr. Charles Olaro, Director of Clinical Services in the Ministry of Health.
Nyakahuma emphasized that the program’s implementation is expected to provide crucial feedback to improve future disease management strategies. Dr. Gilbert Mateeka, Kabale District Health Officer, noted that the district records an average of 15 new diabetes cases and 24 hypertension cases monthly.
The partnership aims to address the growing burden of NCDs in Uganda by enhancing early detection, raising awareness, and implementing effective prevention and management strategies.