{"id":2131,"date":"2025-08-22T10:31:27","date_gmt":"2025-08-22T09:31:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/amref.org\/uganda\/?p=2131"},"modified":"2025-08-22T11:02:09","modified_gmt":"2025-08-22T10:02:09","slug":"reaching-the-last-mile-amref-health-africa-and-partners-improve-access-to-healthcare-for-island-communities-in-mityana-district","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/amref.org\/uganda\/blog\/reaching-the-last-mile-amref-health-africa-and-partners-improve-access-to-healthcare-for-island-communities-in-mityana-district\/","title":{"rendered":"Reaching the Last Mile: Amref Health Africa and Partners Improve Access To Healthcare For Island Communities in Mityana District."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Daphine Ayebare<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Saving Lives and Livelihoods (SLL) project, implemented by Amref Health Africa in Uganda in partnership with Africa CDC, African Union, and Ministry of health in Uganda & funded by the MasterCard Foundation, has been a game-changer for communities in hard-to-reach areas of Mityana District. On August 13, 2025, the project provided life jackets to health workers from 3 health facilities which support the island communities in Katiko, Bagwe and Mabo Islands along Lake Wamala, ensuring their safety as they deliver essential health services to the last mile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kawooya Vincent, the District Health Officer (DHO) for Mityana, says this support has been a huge relief. “We can only be productive if we are alive and improve the livelihood of our communities,” he said. “One of the biggest challenges has been accessing these islands with health services. This is the issue that Amref has solved today through provision of life jackets to supervisors and vaccination teams to ensure last mile coverage.\u201d This sentiment is echoed by Ronald Kateregga, a project officer, who explained that a key priority for the project is to extend services to hard-to-reach communities, of which Islands qualify, as well as people living with comorbidities and the elderly. \u201cPeople here have to move long distances including crossing the lake, which is a huge barrier to the health facility to access services. Maanyi Health Center III which is a sub-county health facility has a catchment of 25,000 including residents of Mabo Island. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kakule Henry, the In-Charge, highlighted the challenges faced by the facility, including understaffing, lack of transport, and safety equipment for health workers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“If a health worker is to move from facility to island, it’s expensive for the facility in terms of fuel for the boat hire, so we stop at the landing sites and request the communities to cross for services, which is also financially constraining for them.”<\/em><\/strong> Kakule Henry, Incharge Maanyi Health Center III<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Henry added that “without partners like Amref to support, we would not be able to reach the islands with integrated services through outreaches.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n