User:Uphauganda/sandbox

UPHA back ground. Uganda Private Health Units Association (UPHA) is an umbrella NGO launched on December 17th 2005 by the Director General of health services. UPHA is a registered member of Uganda HealthCare Federation a USAID funded organization. UPHA has come from far and has always strives to develop an integrated health care system among its members. However, due respect must be given to our founder members for sustaining the Association for many years under a very harsh and unfriendly environment. These few devoted individuals have always kept alive the unity of the private health units sector; conducting Annual general meetings in the recent years without fail. The association has tried to mobilize and advocating for additional resources for the private health units  programs financing from donor organizations, through the government proposed social health insurance scheme and through UHF. Membership of UPHA is open to all private health units and all registered NGOs/CBOs working on health issues and other international organizations/ agencies that subscribe to the values, aims and objectives of UPHA in Uganda. Forum based approach In order for the association to achieve its objectives, plans are being laid down to make it more dynamic and expand not only its membership across the country ,but also to lay down ideas of how to provide advocacy, networking system and provide a more interactive forum for exchange of ideas and provide a launching pad for growth. This can only be achieved through membership enrolment drive throughout the different regions of Uganda, mobilizing of funds and also setting up a national secretariat in Kampala with both part time and full time technical team that will act also as a central region secretariat and  later on set up other secretariats for the Eastern, Western, Northern and South-western regions that shall be represented and headed by the regional representative in order to serve  and represent our members better at monthly meetings, networking workshops and other official duties as may a raise from  communications from the  national secretariat  in Kampala. This UPHA team will be made of a very dedicated and competent staff, it will make tremendous strides in expanding membership all over the country, representing UPHA, launching numerous programmes for our members, ranging from HIV/AIDS to NCD, Quality improvement training, business training, networking, reproductive child health, advocacy and many other activities. UPHA is supported by UHF a USaid aid NGO in the provision of support in terms of technical advice, finance and meeting organizing. UPHA is looking out to partner with numerous institutions, local and international, to participate in coordinated health programmes. These include the Ministry of health, International health funding organizations like PATH, PharmAccess, Embassies and others. This glorious future depends entirely on the dedication of its staff and commitment of its members. These two groups can propel UPHA to greater heights and a national and international organization of renown. UPHA should strive to provide more services and support to its members. It should always be there for them. Networking and referral systems within the private health units sector should be established and strengthened. Support within the system between units should be encouraged and supported. Group private health care units should be established in the rural setting to run some of the UPHA programme initiatives, with UPHA support by mobilizing and providing startup financing, guidance on management and working capital. Financial sustainability of UPHA is a major constraint facing its survival. Unless UPHA develops modalities to create larger finances by its self and funding partners, it will fail to grow, expand or provide greater services to its growing membership population. Fund mobilization through donations for programmes, research, joint commercial enterprises such as in training, conferences and health workshops across the country can be the way forward. Dependence on Donors alone is dangerous and hardly a sustainable alternative. Members’ views should be sought to build on these ideas.