BUILDING A STRONGER HEALTH WORKFORCE TO ADVANCE PEOPLE-CENTERED HEALTH SERVICES

Baylor Foundation Uganda strengthens Uganda’s health system through a holistic approach anchored in the six WHO health system building blocks: health financing, leadership and governance, capacity building, health information systems, laboratory systems, and supply chain management. By working closely with the Ministry of Health, district health teams, and local authorities, Baylor Foundation Uganda enhances the capacity of health workers and institutions to deliver efficient, equitable, and people-centered care. These efforts improve service delivery, optimize resource utilization, and expand community access to quality healthcare across the country.

OUR WORK

BUILDING ROBUST HEALTH FINANCING SYSTEMS

Baylor Foundation Uganda disburses subgrants to local authorities to strengthen and sustain the HIV response and provides in-kind support, including laboratory refurbishments, computers, medical equipment, and communication and technology systems. These combined investments reinforce infrastructure, strengthen data systems, and improve oversight, contributing to a more resilient and responsive health system.

To maximize value for money, Baylor Foundation Uganda sets predefined performance targets for all subgrantees, complemented by capacity building, regular technical assistance, ongoing monitoring, and output verification. Through this structured approach, the Foundation strengthens the financial and technical capacity of subgrantees, enhancing compliance, efficiency, and sustainability in subgrant management.

ENSURING ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL HEALTH COMMODITIES & NEW TECHNOLOGIES

Baylor Foundation Uganda supports health facilities to maintain adequate stocks of essential medicines and supplies, with funding from the U.S. Department of State, the ELMA Foundation, the Global Fund, and the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation. This work is implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, National Medical Stores, Joint Medical Store, Central Public Health Laboratories, National Drug Authority, and local authorities.

In partnership with METS, the Ministry of Health Pharmacy Division, and the Ministry of Health Division for Health Informatics, Baylor Foundation Uganda has supported districts to transition from real-time HIV treatment commodities stock monitoring to a weekly stock status system. This transition has enabled more comprehensive monitoring of HIV treatment and testing commodities, as well as non-communicable disease supplies.

 IMPLEMENTING SUSTAINABLE CAPACITY BUILDING INITIATIVES

To support the Ministry of Health’s strategic shift toward people-centered, integrated healthcare, Baylor Foundation Uganda strengthens the competencies of health workers across both acute and chronic care areas, including HIV, TB, malaria, NCDs, maternal health, and other priority services through a six-pronged strategy: Strengthening Regional Training & Cascading Capacity, Mentorship for Sustainable Skills Transfer, Technology-Enabled Learning, Internship Program, Enhancing Digital Leadership Capacity and Strengthening Learning Partnerships.

BUILDING ORGANISATIONAL CAPACITY FOR SUSTAINABLE (C4S) EPIDEMIC CONTROL

Baylor Foundation Uganda is supporting organisational sustainability through the U.S. CDC-funded Capacity for Sustainability (C4S) project, implemented by Deloitte Uganda. As a sub-awardee, the Foundation supports implementing partners to assess organisational maturity across ten domains and develop tailored capacity development plans.

The project delivers targeted capacity-building sessions, grant management boot camps, and practical tools to strengthen governance, service quality, monitoring and evaluation, and resource mobilization. The C4S project continues supporting partners across the region and onboards 37 local authorities in Uganda to advance sustainable epidemic control.

STRENGTHENING LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE TO IMPROVE HEALTH SERVICE DELIVERY

Baylor Foundation Uganda strengthens leadership and governance systems by functionalizing governance structures, enhancing multisectoral coordination, integrating digital learning platforms, and improving performance management systems in supported districts.

The Foundation works with district leadership and health facility managers to strengthen Hospital Boards and Health Unit Management Committees, enabling them to approve work plans and budgets, review annual reports, and oversee emergency medicine and health supply management. It also establishes and operationalizes project steering committees to guide implementation, advocate for inclusive workplace policies, and support district health initiatives.

Baylor Foundation Uganda supports the reactivation of district rewards and sanctions committees, using data-driven approaches such as biometric attendance tracking and electronic medical records to improve accountability. These interventions increase staff attendance, restore discipline, and enhance service delivery.

DIGITIZING HEALTH SERVICE PROCESSES FOR EVIDENCE-BASED ACTION

Baylor Foundation Uganda is strengthening Uganda’s digital health ecosystem through targeted investments in Health Information Systems. By integrating technology, strong data governance, and capacity building, we enable district health teams to access timely, accurate, and actionable data—driving better decision-making and improved service delivery.

Working in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health and district health teams, Baylor Foundation Uganda has supported the following achievements:

• Deployment and maintenance of national digital platforms, including DHIS2, eAFYA, Uganda Electronic Medical Records (EMR), and the Health Information Exchange. These platforms have improved data flow, real-time reporting, and patient-level tracking, strengthening overall health system performance.
• Capacity building for health workers, with training for data officers, clinicians, and records assistants on digital tools, data visualization, and the use of data for evidence-based decision-making.
• Strengthened digital infrastructure, including upgraded servers, secure networks, and reliable connectivity to enhance data accessibility and cybersecurity. Real-time dashboards now support routine program reviews and management decisions, contributing to measurable improvements in care outcomes, such as increased HIV linkage in Mubende District.

IMPROVING QUALITY LABORATORY SERVICES MANAGEMENT

Baylor Foundation Uganda strengthens laboratory systems to ensure consistent, timely, and reliable diagnostic services—an essential foundation for effective patient management. In Uganda’s health system, particularly for HIV, TB, and malaria, laboratory services remain the most accessible and cost-effective entry point to care.

To enhance the quality and efficiency of laboratory services, Baylor Foundation Uganda implemented a comprehensive package of interventions, including infrastructure upgrades, support for international accreditation, implementation of Laboratory Quality Management Systems (LQMS), equipment servicing and maintenance, quality monitoring, rollout of Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) and point-of-care technologies, rapid expansion of the Health Information Exchange, and continuous in-service training and mentorship for laboratory personnel.

Monitoring the Quality of Testing

Baylor Foundation Uganda supported over 546 laboratories across the Fort Portal, Mubende, Bunyoro, and Mbale regions to provide diagnostic testing aligned with Ministry of Health (MoH) test menus for their service level. Support covered both on-site testing and sample referrals to 49 MoH laboratory hubs and GeneXpert sites, enabled through a robust sample transport and results transmission network.

International Accreditation and Continuous Quality Improvement

To strengthen quality assurance, Baylor Foundation Uganda supported laboratories to meet Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) and accreditation standards. As a result, 22 of the 27 supported laboratories have achieved and sustained international accreditation under ISO 15189:2022 or College of American Pathologists (CAP) standards. In addition, the Kiboga Hub Laboratory was refurbished to meet MoH infrastructural certification requirements.

Proficiency Testing and Quality Assurance

Baylor Foundation Uganda provided technical assistance to health facilities participating in national and external proficiency testing schemes, including HIV, CD4, TB GeneXpert, viral load, EID point-of-care, serum CrAg, syphilis, and other diagnostic services. Support included performance review, corrective action planning, and timely response to proficiency testing panels. Testing performance remained consistently high, with average satisfactory scores above 97%, and several facilities achieving 100% performance.

Strengthening Laboratory Information Systems and Equipment Maintenance

All 546 supported peripheral laboratories continued to implement LQMS in line with their level of care. In collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Baylor Foundation Uganda expanded electronic viral load test requests and results reporting through EMR-enabled Health Information Exchange and enhanced laboratory information management systems. This innovation reduced viral load turnaround time from an average of 23 days to just 3 days.

In parallel, Baylor Foundation Uganda provided technical support to regional maintenance workshops and contracted service providers, ensuring 100% equipment servicing, minimal downtime, and calibration of over 53 automated laboratory machines.

IMPACT IN NUMBERS

• 2,310+ health workers trained in integrated service delivery
• 620 sites supported to provide ART services through the integrated approach
• 581 sites supported to run the EMR system for data capture
• 546 peripheral laboratories supported to provide testing commensurate to their level of service.
• 22 out of 27 laboratory hubs achieved and sustained international accreditation to ISO 15189:2022 or the College of American Pathologists.
• 100% satisfactory External Quality Assessment (EQA) performance for CD4 and TB GeneXpert testing across supported health facilities
• 98% satisfactory performance for HIV testing across supported health facilities