Amref Health Africa has been recognized as the Winner of the Programmatic Impact Awards – International for their outstanding contributions to improving lives and driving sustainable change in the inaugural Uganda Wash Impact Award.
“Your dedication and innovation set the standard for excellence in the sector,”Judges announced during the awards ceremony held on Friday at Protea Hotel.
The Uganda Wash Impact Award is an initiative of Uganda Water and Sanitation Network in collaboration with Ministry of Water and Environment and stakeholders in civil society forum that seeks to recognize individuals and organizations promoting good advocacy in water, sanitation and hygiene ecosystem.
Amref Health Africa is a non-governmental organization headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya and founded in 1957 with the vision of lasting health change in Africa.
Amref Health Africa partners with the Uganda Ministry of Health, Ministry of Water, Ministry of Education and Sports and corporate and non-profit organisations to improve access to health services across the country.
Amref Health Africa’s seminal projects in Uganda were related to providing health services and education to communities and local institutions acutely affected by the detrimental effects of ongoing civil and political unrest.
championed the cause of proper WASH practices: from advocating for high sanitation standards to promoting frequent hand-washing with clean water and soap, the focus remained on empowering individuals with the knowledge and tools to uphold hygiene. Particularly notable were efforts to address Menstrual Hygiene Management practices and proper waste disposal methods, crucial aspects often overlooked in sanitation discourse.
The culmination of the week’s activities saw us receiving prestigious accolades from the Ministry of Health represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Diana Atwiine and the event’s guest of honour, prime minister, Hon. Robinah Nabanjja. A certificate of appreciation was awarded in recognition of Amref’s significant contributions to improving WASH service delivery in Uganda.
Amidst our commendable achievements, we remain steadfast in our mission to enhance WASH service delivery and contribute to the realisation of Universal Health Coverage in Uganda. Currently, we are actively implementing four transformative projects under the WASH program: Piwa Maleng Phase II, WASH for SRHR in Amuru, Solar for Inclusive WASH services, and WASH SDG through which we have reached 103,678 beneficiaries, 69% of whom got access to safely managed sanitation facilities which is in line with the global sanitation recommendations.
The programme has been able to declare 32 villages in Agago open defecation free thus helping to lower the risk of contracting sanitation and water related illnesses for over 7,680 people living in these villages.
Through collaborative endeavours and steadfast dedication, we are paving the way for a healthier, more sustainable future for all Ugandans.