Health Literacy and Advocacy

Health Literacy and Awareness

Uganda’s health burden is dominated by communicable diseases, which account for over 50% of illness and death. Malaria, HIV/AIDS, TB, and respiratory, epidemic-prone and vaccine-preventable diseases are the leading causes of sickness and mortality. There is also a growing challenge of non-communicable diseases including mental health disorders, maternal and perinatal conditions. Tropical Diseases remain a big problem in the country, affecting mainly rural poor communities.

Access to and use of health information are critical to and public health impact in remote communities. Better health information access and use help individuals improve knowledge, increase use of health services, reduce health care costs, adopt healthier behavioural patterns. Achieving good health contributes to increased social and economic productivity and has been regarded by the World Bank as clear path out of rural poverty.

Almost 73% of Ugandans live in rural areas while at least at 41.7% of Uganda’s urban population live in slums. There are numerous barriers including limited connectivity (communication), distance, lack of financial resources and specialty health care services and lower levels of health literacy that make it challenging for residents in these communities to access and use reliable health information.

Information overload due to the influx of new technology (social media) can easily propagate misinformation in rural areas and mislead people into adapting health-impairing behaviours such as at the onset of a new health crisis or vaccination drive.

At Remote Health Impact, we are empowering rural and slum communities to make healthier choices and reduce risks of diseases and illnesses. We are creating awareness about health issues and challenges, changing attitudes to prevente communicable and non-communicable diseases, effective utilization of existing health services and stimulating demand for others where necessary

We are advocating for inclusive health policies and equitable access to health rights and services for the remote communities and ensure that these communities have access to and embrace sexual reproductive health rights, end drug and substance abuse, embrace vaccination drives, end malaria and other infections, maternal and child health, HIV/TB among others. Our literacy and awareness programs are designed to help these vulnerable communities to make better and more informed health choices.