MGH, in partnership with the Global Health Collaborative, Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), and Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH), has significantly supported surrounding communities through the First Mile Project. This initiative has been instrumental in bringing vital healthcare services directly to the people, focusing on capacity building, research and innovation, and community engagement.
For the past six years, the First Mile Project has made substantial strides in:
- Clinical Care: Strengthening MRRH and MUST staff to deliver high-quality clinical care. Over 58 primary care providers have received support to enhance their skills and knowledge. The program has supported human resources in critical areas of MRRH, including oncology, high-risk obstetrics, intensive care unit, pediatric nutrition, emergency, dialysis, neurosurgery HDU, pathology, biomedical services, and special pathogens unit.
- Research and Innovation: Driving advancements in understanding disease burdens and developing innovative healthcare solutions. The project has supported research grants and collaborated with CAMTech to address pressing medical challenges in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
- Community Engagement: Empowering communities through initiatives like the Ubuntu Project, where nurses work with schoolchildren to promote health awareness and preventive measures (ripple effect). Additionally, the First Mile Community Project has focused on building the capacity of primary healthcare providers in underserved areas, equipping them with the necessary skills to improve local healthcare delivery. This has also been achieved through supporting postgraduate community placements.
By taking healthcare to the “first mile,” the project has had a profound impact on the lives of countless individuals in the Mbarara region and beyond.
Before the presentations, remarks were given in line with the project. Dr. Peter Olds, the Deputy Program Director of GHC, said: “First Mile was started with the goal of responding to local needs with local ideas. In contrast to other donor-funded projects, where ideas come from those who are giving the money, First Mile was imagined as a type of grassroots health system strengthening project. Where ideas for programs come from the clinicians, researchers, and implementers who know the problems firsthand and who are best situated to have the solutions.”
Dr. Olds shared a beautiful story: “On my flight here, I sat next to a former UN worker from the central region. He asked me what I was doing in Uganda. I described the First Mile program and the work of all the amazing people in this room that make up our team. He was truly impressed by the scope of the work and finished by saying that he wished for such a multifaceted program in other parts of the country, and especially the central region.”
Dr. Olds acknowledged the PIs on this project: Prof. Celestino Obua, the former Vice Chancellor of MUST, Dr. Louise Ivers, and the Wyss Medical Foundation. He also acknowledged the support of MUST, MRRH, Dr. Celestine Barigye (Ministry of Health), Katete Nyakoyojo, and Nyamiyaga primary schools, the Grants Office, and especially Stephen Asiimwe and Annet Kembabazi for their leadership and the amazing work of the core team.
Dr. Stephen Asiimwe, Director of the CGH-Uganda program, appreciated all lead implementing teams, the community, and stated that the purpose of the day was to hear how impactful the different projects were.
As this beautiful journey comes to an end, the project leaders will share the outcomes and outputs of the specific activities.
Presentations
Closing remarks
Prof. Louise Ivers, the Executive Director of Global Health Collaborative, expressed her gratitude and accomplishment for the successful six-year run of the First Mile Project. She highlighted the collaborative efforts, innovation, and community engagement that have been instrumental in transforming healthcare delivery in Mbarara and beyond
She commended the team at MUST and MRRH for their dedication and passion, emphasizing their crucial role in the project’s success. She encouraged everyone to continue building upon the strong foundation laid by the First Mile Project, striving for excellence in research, education, and clinical care, and addressing pressing health challenges.
Prof. Ivers expressed confidence in the project’s long-lasting impact and thanked everyone for their hard work and dedication. She concluded by congratulating everyone on a job well done.
Professor Pauline Byakika Kibwika, the Vice Chancellor, expressed her sincere gratitude to the GHC Management for their invaluable support over the past six years. She extended special thanks to Professor Louise, the Executive Director of GHC, and Dr. Peter Olds, who graced the closure of the First Mile Project. She was particularly impressed by the studies presented, especially the one by Dr. Brian Turigye, representing the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, on clinical collaborations at MUST, and the audit report that summarized the comprehensive work of First Mile.
Professor Byakika emphasized the crucial need for sustainability to ensure long-term impact and the importance of translating research findings into practical applications for communities, particularly leaders and policymakers. She congratulated the innovations that had reached the commercialization stage, as evidenced by the recent CAMTech Uganda showcasing event. She encouraged other projects in the idea or prototype stage to persevere and urged the need for more research aligned with emerging challenges. Prof. Also pointed out the key role of grants office. “when well managed, donors and collaborators are motivated to work with us. Allow me to credit the MUST grants office for the tremendous work they are doing”
I am because we are and because we are therefore I am, Succeed we Must
