Irish Aid ICSP Programme Supporting Access to Healthcare in Hard-to-Reach Areas of Uganda 

Healthcare in Hard-to-Reach Areas 

GOAL Uganda, in partnership with the local government, is supporting access to healthcare in hard-to-reach areas in Uganda. The Ministry of Health in Uganda is responsible for ensuring access to primary healthcare. However, where limited resources hinder the ability of national authorities to effectively provide healthcare services to communities in hard-to-reach areas, GOAL Uganda is facilitating regular integrated health outreaches to reach isolated and underserved communities. 

During a recent outreach in Ojaii, 68 out of 70 children tested positive for malaria. This situation is exacerbated by the heavy rainfall during the rainy season, which leads to increased breeding of malaria-spreading mosquitoes, as well as the poor conditions of the access roads. 

Heavy rainfall and poor road infrastructure hinders the provision of primary healthcare services in Uganda.

Improving Access to Primary Healthcare 

Thanks to the collaborative efforts of local health teams and GOAL staff, our teams are improving access to healthcare in hard-to-reach areas. The children who were identified as suffering from malaria received immediate, life-saving medication. This intervention was crucial for families in the area who would have otherwise struggled to access the necessary treatments.  

Apart from providing malaria medication, the outreach also offered a range of essential healthcare services to the community including Vitamin A supplementation and deworming, in addition to family planning services, and antenatal and postnatal care.  

Malaria screenings were extended to all age groups, and HIV testing and counselling were also provided. Pregnant women and young children received immunisations, and there was a strong focus on nutrition assessments to ensure that vulnerable individuals, especially children and pregnant women, were properly nourished.  

A child receiving Vitamin A supplements from a GOAL-supported healthcare worker.

Strengthening Local Health Systems 

These integrated services are vital in Ojaii, where healthcare is scarce. By combining immediate medical care with long-term preventive measures, the outreach addressed both urgent health concerns and ongoing challenges like malnutrition. Nutrition education provided during the outreach empowered families to make healthier choices, and screening helped identify malnourished children in need of further care.  

GOAL’s efforts to improve access to healthcare in hard-to-reach areas is part of a larger initiative funded by the Irish Civil Society Programme (ICSP) with the aim of improving health outcomes for vulnerable populations in Agago District, Northern Uganda.  

The involvement of local health workers, supported by the district health system, ensures that these services are sustainable. A revolving fund backed by the local government will help make these outreach efforts a routine part of healthcare delivery in the region.  

A GOAL-supported healthcare worker testing children in hard-to-reach areas for malaria.

The impact of the outreach is already being felt. By bringing healthcare directly to the most vulnerable, mortality rates, especially among children under five, are expected to decline. For families in Ojaii, this initiative is more than just access to healthcare—it represents a sense of hope and a belief that their health matters.  

One community member said: “For the first time, we feel like someone cares enough to come to us.”  

GOAL’s support has strengthened the local health system by empowering health workers and involving the community in managing their own health. As efforts continue in the fight against malaria and other preventable diseases, these routine outreaches will remain crucial in improving the well-being of families in Uganda’s most hard-to-reach areas. 

Learn more about GOAL’s work in Uganda.