HealthPartners Uganda Health Cooperative

Did you know that HealthPartners has made it possible for thousands of people in Africa to receive the healthcare they need when they need it? Here are several examples of how we are making a difference in Uganda:

• An estimated 70,000-100,000 children under the age of 5 die from Malaria every year in Uganda. Pregnant women are particularly susceptible. HealthPartners provides insecticide treated bednets to pregnant women and children and trains community volunteers to work with families to ensure proper use.
• Children under the age of 5 often die from diarrhea, due to contaminated water and dirty hands. HealthPartners provides water purification tablets, oral rehydration stations at provider locations, and community mobilization to help people prevent and treat diarrhea.
• For every 100,000 births in Uganda, 880 mothers die from complications during labor. HealthPartners provides safe birthing kits to pregnant women as incentive for seeking antenatal care. Community volunteers are trained to help women recognize danger signs in pregnancy and to develop the supportive environment that enables them to deliver their babies with skilled birth attendants.

In 1997, HealthPartners received a Cooperative Development grant from USAID to develop a community-owned system of prepaid healthcare to improve the health of dairy farmers in Southwestern Uganda. In 2005, HealthPartners received a Child Survival grant from USAID to build local organizational capacity, linking simple, life-saving behavior change interventions to the health plans.

HealthPartners Uganda Health Cooperative is owned by employer and school groups who pool money together quarterly, select benefit packages and contract with providers to access the care they need when they need it. A member-elected board of directors makes decisions to manage and maintain UHC. Building on this indigenous, financially-based structure, HealthPartners expanded the network to include direct involvement from the national government, the Ministry of Health, local government, the District Health Team, the Uganda Community Based Health Financing Association, non-government organizations and community volunteers. In January 2009, UHC will be completely self sustaining with member premiums covering the cost of treatment, administration and operations.