At the moment, one in eight children in Lwengo District will not celebrate their fifth birthday. Imagine if that was the case in the UK – three children out of every nursery class wouldn’t reach reception.

Six medical doctors serve a population of 270,000 people. In Hackney, UK, 150+ doctors serve a similar number.

The Uganda government health budget for Lwengo is £800,000, which is £3 per person. Just one GP practice in Hackney that serves 7,000 people has a budget of £1,000,000, which is £143 per person.

There’s less than the equivalent of one dentist for the whole District, private or government.

Lwengo has no proper operational maternity delivery suite, and there are five maternal deaths for every 1,000 births in the District.

The life expectancy at birth for men in Lwengo is 53.2 years, and for women, it is 63.9 years.

When we last visited, the local community health centre did not have a blood pressure machine. (we have helped to rectify that)

We are currently building a Health Centre that will offer effective and efficient healthcare services. Check here for the milestones.

Many people struggle to afford health care in Lwengo District and it’s even worse during the COVID pandemic and the ongoing economic struggles in Uganda.

The health centre offers a high-quality service at an affordable price no more expensive than any local health centre other than Government centres which provide a service free of charge when they can.

To make the centre both sustainable and affordable, we will:

1. Offer a great high quality, clinically safe service which attracts those who can pay the full amount
2. Provide different payment methods which people on lower incomes will be able to afford
3. Never turn away those who truly can’t pay if their condition threatens their life or their employment. (even via the methods described below)
4. Continue to focus on the Economic Growth Strategies of Joy For Humanity so that the wealth of the community increases.

We believe it will take 18 months to break even and reach a sustainable model.  We plan to make a surplus in 2024 and have staff sponsorship to support the health centre until then.

Stage 1

Stage 1 was completed in March 2022.  It took 9 months to construct and cost £200,000.  A team of 8 clinicians were recruited and doors opened on 23^rd March 2022 .The funding came from individual supporters in the UK.

1. Dentistry with a high-quality dental chair is not available anywhere else in the District of Lwengo.
2. A small maternity unit which includes a 4D ultrasound scanner is not available anywhere else in the District.
3. A well-equipped laboratory. One of the best equipped in the District and able to serve other health clinics locally.
4. Outpatients
5. A male ward, a female ward and a children’s ward.
6. Community Outreach services
7. Immunisations
8. A health computer system with patient records and collecting population health data.

Stage 2

We are in the process of raising £125,000 to complete Stage 2, and so far we have raised £25,000. 

An order has also been placed for more furniture for the wards and the construction of staff accommodation will commence soon.

The additional elements of Stage 2 are:

1. A significantly expanded high-quality maternity suite
2. An expanded dental suite with two high-quality dental chairs.
3. A second and larger women’s ward
4. Additional Outpatients’ capacity.
5. The first Endometriosis centre in Uganda

A research project on Women’s Health with a multifaceted approach encompassing healthcare access, education, community engagement, and advocacy is being worked on to empower women with the knowledge, resources, and support they need to lead healthier lives and make informed choices about their well-being.

Key components of this project include:

• Enhancing access to quality healthcare services, focusing on maternal and reproductive health.
• Raising awareness about critical health issues and advocating for policy changes that benefit women’s health.
• Promoting women’s education and skill development to foster economic independence.
• Collaborating closely with local communities, leaders, and organisations to ensure a culturally sensitive and community-driven approach.

Every person attending the centre will receive the same level of health care irrespective of their ability to pay.