Health Promotion Program - Health is Elemental to All Life
Providing a sustainable pathway toward improved individual and community living conditions in Muko Sub-County, Uganda
Our Mission
ACT Uganda’s Health Promotion Program works to reduce morbidity and mortality among the population in Rubanda District, Uganda by addressing key health impact outcomes, improving health literacy, and reducing health disparities within the communities. We aim to use resources to create the greatest impact possible for population health in these vulnerable areas.
History
ACT Uganda began our Health Promotion program in 2014 by facilitating community-driven health dialogues and investing in local volunteers to serve as Health Promotion Workers in very rural Muko Sub-County. The participants identified public health-related issues and developed solutions in each village. In 2021-2022, ACT Uganda performed health education dramas to spread public health educational information across larger audiences. Our health initiative has since evolved into a program that aims to share practical and accessible health education content grounded in science that enables people in remote areas to make informed healthcare decisions for themselves and their families. In 2023, ACT Uganda began using the Uganda-selected United Nations Development Goals to identify key public health priorities and vulnerable population groups within the community. Programs were then built around these goals to target Uganda’s most vulnerable population: women and children.
Why Your Support Matters
In a culture where there are limited resources and support for women and girls, ACT is committed to making sure that their needs are addressed and valued. It only takes a few dollars to make a world of difference for a woman or girl in Uganda.
Our Approach
Recognizing the limited resources for public health education in Uganda, ACT steps in to fill this critical gap. Led by Nurse Midwife Judith Tukahirwa, the program delivers health education sessions across rural and remote areas of Muko Sub-County. These sessions provide participants with essential knowledge and resources to make informed health decisions.
ACT Staff travel weekly to remote villages in rural Uganda to conduct health sessions for two programs:
1 ) Healthy Moms / Healthy Babies: These community-based health education sessions for expecting and new mothers discuss nutrition, childbirth, vaccinations, and how to recognize key “danger signs” during pregnancy. Mothers are encouraged to give birth with a skilled birth attendant present, traveling if necessary to a place with medical resources. Mama kits (soap, surgical gloves, surgical blade, gauze, etc.; see below) are provided as funds permit.
2) Girls Rise: These school-based health education sessions for teen and tween girls discuss menstrual hygiene and break down barriers to attending school during their menstrual cycle. Girls receive a sample pack of disposable pads, which influence long-term behavior changes for many girls who attend.
Girls Rise Program sessions take place weekly when school is in session: February, March, May, June, July, September, and November. Healthy Moms / Healthy Babies sessions take place weekly in January, April, August, October, and December.
Judith leads a discussion on menstrual hygiene with girls at a local primary school.
2025 Focus Areas
Girls Rise Program
During the school year, HEAL concentrates on menstrual hygiene education through the Girls Rising Program. This initiative teaches girls about the science and importance of menstrual health, aiming to reduce school absenteeism and promote self-confidence.
Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Program
During school breaks, the focus shifts to supporting expectant and new mothers. This program encourages prenatal care, safe birth planning, vaccinations, and proper nutrition. Mothers learn to recognize pregnancy danger signs and the importance of seeking clinical care.
Providing Essential Supplies
To support these programs, ACT distributes:
Mama Kits: Containing birthing essentials to promote safe deliveries. Women bring their kit to the hospital for a safer birth. Each kit contains basic medical items:
Cotton roll
Delivery mats
Gauze
Surgical gloves (12)
Surgical blades (2)
Maternity pads (12)
Child Health Growth Card
Cord Tie
Soap
Menstrual Hygiene Sample Packs: Providing girls with necessary supplies to manage their menstrual health.
Each Mama Kit costs $9.60 USD, and each menstrual hygiene pack is $0.95 USD. Donations directly fund these supplies, making a tangible difference in the lives of women and girls in Muko.
Breastfeeding mothers meeting with Judith Tukahirwa, the ACT Health Promotion Manager.
Impact
Each year, more than 250 new or expecting mothers attended a health education session in their own community through the Healthy Moms / Healthy Babies Program. Judith often relays stories of mothers who attend her session and decide to give birth with a skilled birth attendant instead of at home. Some women have reported experiencing unexpected complications during birth, where mothers or babies only survived because of what they learned from ACT Uganda’s health promotion programs. As a local with a scientific education and a passion for maternal child health, Judith is trusted by women and able to save lives nearly every week.
The school-based Girls Rise program currently reaches nearly 300 girls each year who attend primary schools of Muko Sub-County. These weekly sessions reduce the stigma associated with periods and encourage sensitization among girls and their teachers who may be prone to teasing or taunting girls with stains on their clothing. Girls learn how to take care of their bodies and balance a busy school workload with their personal health needs.
The Uganda Ministry of Health has asked ACT to expand its efforts beyond Muko Sub-County. This is a significant recognition of the importance and impact of ACT’s HEAL program and the plan is to expand these two programs to Bifundi Sub-County beginning in 2026.
You Make It Possible
In a region where resources for women and girls are scarce, your contribution can have a profound impact. By donating to the ACT Health Promotion Program, you help ensure that women and girls in Muko Sub-County receive the education and supplies they need for a healthier future.