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UCBHCA National Secretariat:
The association has a national secretariat based at Entebbe which is the technical unit responsible for strengthening capacity of its member organizations and Government institutions as well as Development partners to be able to effectively implement the Ministry of Health policy strategic Investment Plans (HSSIP) Primary Health Care activities at community level using the Community Based Health Care strategy and Approach which is aimed at empowering communities in participating in matters concerning their lives in their communities.
The key role of the technical unit is to Coordinate, monitor and evaluate NGO program activities and PNFP Health facility services. Currently there are 200 nonprofit PNFP Health facilities accessing essential drugs through Joint Medical stores at Nsambya. Another role of the technical unit is to develop training materials and manuals for training health workers in the country and organizing workshops for training; National Facilitators, Trainers of trainers (TOTs), Nurses, Midwives, Village Health teams/CHWs to equip them with technical facilitation skills in Primary Health Care, Community Based Health Care, Community mobilization, Community dialogue and empowerment and Behaviour change communication just to mention a few packages, the rest are indicated below.
Role of UCBHCA among non Faith Based PNFP Health Facilities in Uganda:
The UCBHCA role among others is to promote, protect, represent, advocate and develop accreditation standards for monitoring and ensuring professional conduct and fostering ethical practice among health workers of PNFP Health facilities in Uganda. UCBHCA emphasizes patient safety in all PNFP Health facilities to avoid preventable errors and adverse effects caused on patients due to poor service delivery in health facilities
Supply Chain:
UCBHCA has established strong partnership with the Ministry of Health to enable non faith based NGOs/PNFPs to be able to implement Health policy Health Sector Strategic Investment Plan HSSIP and to access supply chain particularly the essential drugs through JMS and Family planning commodities to be able to increase Community access to quality services at low cost . Ensure that the non faith based NGOs/PNFPs Health facilities meet the require set standards to provide quality services and access all the benefits to increase community access to quality services at low cost and sustain the services.
Student Internship program:
UCBHCA initiated an internship program from 2008 to induct young professionals into PHC and CBHC concepts as future development workers and leaders.

The internship program starts at our head office Secretariat based at Entebbe to initiate and induct the student about the net work programs and the field attachment to our member non facility and facility based NGOs/PNFPs. This program is open to all young professionals from all countries. Currently a number of students from Universities including; Makerere, Kyambo and Liverpool School of tropical medicine have already benefited from this program. Our members are all encouraged to welcome the student interns at their programs to strengthen their capacity.
1.3 Key Activities carried out by the secretariat technical unit;
(i) Mobilize CSOs/NGOs/CBOs at National and District level to advocate for PHC and Ministry of health policy and Health strategic Investment Plan implantation using the Community Based Health Care (CBHC) approach to empowerment communities to
participate in health and development activities to improve their quality of life
(ii) Strengthen Partnerships between Ministry of Health, Development partners and Donors and non faith based NGOs/PNFPs
(iii) Develop, review training manuals and IEC materials for training of Facilitators, Trainer of Trainers (TOTs), Village Health Teams/Community Based Health Workers (VHTs/CHWs) and Communities.
(iv) Build Capacity of members and other stakeholders to equip with technical knowledge and skills in PHC, Community Based Health, Care, leadership, Accreditation standards for Health, HMIS, Quality Assurance,, Prevention of STI/HIV/AIDS/PMTCT, T.B.T.B/HIV, MDR-TB, Counseling, CBDOTS, Family Planning,, Immunization and Injection safety and RED/REC Strategy, Prevention of Malaria, pneumonia, diarrhea and other Childhood illnesses, Nutrition, Hygiene and Hand washing, Water and Sanitation, Safe water Management Chain, Environment sanitation and West Management,
Dialogue, Community Diagnosis/Situation Analysis,
Social Mobilization and Advocacy,
Principles and Objectives of Community Development,
Gender and development
Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA)

Uganda Community
Based Health Care
Association
(UCBHCA)

Offices are based in Entebbe on
Berkeley Road opposite NARO
Address P.O.Box 7881 Kampala, Uganda,
Tel: +256414661588,
Mobile: +256755446101/+256772402740
Email: ucbhca20@gmail.com
Website:: www.ucbhca.org

Background:
Uganda Community Based Health Care Association (UCBHCA) is an Umbrella organization of both facility based and non facility based nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) implementing Primary Health Care/Community Based Health Care (PHC/CBHC) at Community level. It was formed in April 1986 by a 86 NGOs both local and international that were involved in Primary Health Care at community level which had come together to share their experiences in implementing PHC and joint training in Primary Health Care sponsored by Unicef. At the end of this meeting it was proposed that the members present form this Association.
Over the years UCBHCA has developed into a consortium of PNFPs/NGOs, CBOs and Government departments engaged in Health Care implementation at community level. It was registered under the national NGO board in 1986 as national Non Governmental Organizations (NGO) operating at national level in all parts of Uganda.
UCBHCA is a major partner with the Ministry of Health of Uganda in implementation of the national Health policy, Health Sector Strategic Investment Plan (HSSIP) through its Community based grassroots 780 member NGOs/CBO operating in districts in Uganda.
1.1 UCBHCA’s Vision is:
To improve the quality of life of the people for sustainable health and development through improved Primary Health Care/Community Based Health Care services at community level.
1.2 Mission Statement:
The association exists to promote and coordinate sustainable community based health and development initiatives through gender responsive planning and community participation. It seeks to empower all the people to fully participate in matters concerning their lives and ensuring women empowerment and full participation. Everybody has a right to health and sustainable development.

UCBHCA strives to achieve the above mission by;
1. Promoting the growth of Community Based Approach to Development as the most effective and sustainable long term way to achieve maximum socio-economic development.
2. Empowering communities to manage their own health/development initiatives through capacity building/ training workshops and field practical at various levels (National, District, Sub-county, Parish and Village) in fields of health/integrated Primary Health Care and social development.
3. Serving as a focal point for non faith based NGO development activities in the country and undertaking coordination, monitoring and evaluation of activities of non faith based NGOs/CBOs operating at community level and giving the necessary technical Support and guidance.
4. Facilitating co-operation, networking, Building partnerships and strengthening the existing communication and information sharing among community based organizations themselves, government and development partner agencies, donors through provision of forums/conferences for sharing knowledge, experiences and Best practices
5. Undertaking Advocacy at all levels for Primary Health Care/Community Based Health Care approach as the pre-requisite for sustainable development.
6. Acting as a link between NGOs /PNFPs/ CBOs, Government and Donors by advising them on proposal writing and fundraising from potential donors
7. Advising Government, Development Partners and Donors on potential NGOs/PNFPs/CBO for donor support
Mandate
The Ministry of Health – Uganda mandated the Uganda Community Based Health Care Association to coordinate the implementation of the partnerships between the civil societies and the Ministry of health in implementation of essential primary health care service delivery by; Offering technical insight to the Ministry in formulation of guidelines for all community based organizations in operating in Uganda,
Offering technical insight to the Ministry in formulation of guidelines for all community based organizations in operating in Uganda

Organizations operating in Uganda,
Assisting in identifying and selecting organizations for funding by the Ministry of Health
Convening consultative meetings on health matters and offering technical support and building capacity of organizations to effectively implement national health policy and Health Sector Investment plans and supported projects at community level
Offering technical support and building capacity of organizations in area of accreditation standards, project formulation, planning, management, finance
and resource mobilization, SRHR, MCH, ANC, FP, Malaria, ICCM, HIV/AID, TB,HMIS, Food Security and Nutrition, Community Based Management information system,
Monitoring the performance of organizations and offering technical advice and capacity to effectively implement funded projects, Evaluating NGO projects.
Organization Culture: People First
UCBHCA ensures that people must be served first and are always at the centre of their health and development. Gender equality is priority
Core Values: UCHCA Core Values are Transparency, Accountability, Integrity, Honest, self respect and respect for others for sustainable development
Dressing Code: UCBHCA emphases’ that every staff must dress decently while at work in office and in the field.