AHA started operation in Uganda being responsible for community-based health and sanitation services to all refugees’ settlers in Mongula, East Moyo District, bordering Sudan. The intervention in 1995 was aimed at filling the gap in the health sector as no medical facilities existed in Mongula. Simultaneously, immunization services, reproductive health, preventive activities, environmental hygiene and general health education were carried out.
In the early years of operation, AHA played a bigger role in infrastructure development. Many health points under AHA’s management were converted into permanent health posts. As the demand for enhanced access to health and nutrition services increased, AHA took on additional health posts at Kolididi, Mirieyi, Maaji. The work AHA did in the different health posts improved the health of the refugees and communities in the vicinity increasing the number of beneficiaries under the care of AHA.
Following AHA’s success in the health sector, in 1998, AHA was made solely responsible to deliver health services in the Adjumani district, by managing 23 health centres. Each of the 23 health centres provided communities with access to essential medical services – consultation and treatment – drug provision, laboratory testing, emergency response, reproductive health care, family planning, nutrition and therapeutic feeding and immunisation. Nutrition and health care played a key role in AHA’s work in Uganda.
In 2010, AHA moved its operations to South Western Uganda where it provided health and nutrition Services in Nakivale Refugee Settlement to new refugees from DRC. Since 2012, AHA’s programme moved its operations to two refugee camps Kyaka II and Rwamwanja and continued to provide its PHC services to refugees and host communities. With funds secured from the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration – US Department of State, AHA was also able to curb the gap of SGBV related issues in both the Kyaka II and Rwamwanja refugee settlements.
AHA operates its main projects within a framework of a tripartite agreement between the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and UNHCR.
