Objective
To strengthen national coordination for type 1 diabetes in Uganda by bringing together government, healthcare providers, community organizations, and people living with T1D to improve planning, policy, and collaboration. The project will help create stronger health systems that support better access to quality diabetes care, reduce financial barriers for families, and build sustainable government-led programs that continue beyond the life of the grant.
Background Rationale
Thousands of Ugandans live with type 1 diabetes, but many are not diagnosed or cannot consistently access the care they need. Children and young people are particularly affected, and delayed diagnosis can lead to life-threatening complications. Although many organizations are working to improve diabetes care, efforts are often disconnected, making it difficult to build an effective national response.
Uganda's Ministry of Health has identified type 1 diabetes as a national priority and is expanding services through the PEN-Plus strategy. Achieving this vision requires strong coordination among partners, better planning, reliable information for decision-making, and meaningful involvement of people living with T1D. This project addresses those needs by strengthening collaboration, supporting government leadership, and helping ensure that available resources are used effectively to improve care across the country.
Description of Project
Uganda faces a growing challenge in providing timely, lifelong care for people living with type 1 diabetes (T1D), especially children and young people. Many people remain undiagnosed, and those who are diagnosed often struggle to access insulin, trained healthcare providers, and ongoing support. Although many organizations are working to improve diabetes care, their efforts are often fragmented, making it difficult to build a coordinated national response.
The Uganda Protestant Medical Bureau (UPMB) will lead the coordination and partnership component of the ALIGN-T1D Uganda initiative in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, healthcare providers, civil society organizations, development partners, and people living with T1D. The project will strengthen collaboration across partners, improve planning and accountability, and help ensure that national efforts are aligned toward a common goal.
Working across Uganda, UPMB will support national technical working groups, develop a costed implementation plan for expanding diabetes services, identify ways to reduce the financial burden of diabetes care on families, and generate evidence that informs government policy and future investments. The project will also ensure that people living with T1D and their caregivers actively participate in planning and decision-making rather than serving only as beneficiaries.
By improving coordination, strengthening partnerships, and supporting government leadership, this project will help create a stronger, more sustainable health system capable of delivering better care for people living with T1D long after the grant period ends.
Anticipated Outcome
This project will strengthen Uganda's ability to provide coordinated, sustainable care for people living with type 1 diabetes. By improving collaboration among national partners, supporting government planning, generating evidence for better decision-making, and exploring ways to reduce the financial burden on families, the project will help create stronger health systems that continue to benefit people with T1D beyond the grant period. Ultimately, the work aims to improve access to quality diabetes care, strengthen national policies, and contribute to healthier lives for children, young people, and adults living with T1D.
Relevance to T1D
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a lifelong condition that requires daily insulin, regular monitoring, and ongoing access to quality healthcare. In Uganda, many people—especially children and young adults—experience delays in diagnosis, inconsistent access to treatment, and financial barriers that make managing the condition difficult.
This project directly supports people living with T1D by strengthening the systems that make high-quality care possible. Rather than providing clinical services alone, it brings together government, healthcare providers, community organizations, and people living with T1D to improve coordination, planning, and policy. The project will help develop sustainable approaches to expanding diabetes services, reducing the financial burden on families, and ensuring that the voices of people living with T1D help shape national decisions. These efforts will contribute to more reliable, equitable, and sustainable T1D care for people across Uganda.