3rd March 2011 was indeed a memorable day when AFFORD, the 5 year USAID funded Health Marketing Initiative celebrated 5 years of successful health interventions in Uganda. The AFFORD Consortium led by Johns Hopkins Centre for Communication Programs (CCP), and other partners Futures Group International, Malaria Consortium, Communication for Development Foundation CDFU, Pulse Communication & Aclaim Africa Ltd came together to deliver the vision of AFFORD, which was a Uganda where families and communities are empowered to protect and improve their health, markets for health products and services are vibrant and expanding and consumer access to products and services steadily improves and is increasingly sustainable. This event was organized to showcase AFFORD’s achievements over the five year period October 2005 – September 2011. The highlights of the event were a demonstration of AFFORD’s public -private partnerships in improving health care service delivery in Uganda. This event provided an opportunity for the AFFORD partners and other private sector partners to display the work done under the AFFORD collaboration The Celebration was well attended by about 200 participants from various sectors including the development sector (health care NGOs), private sector (health care professionals, corporates, pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors as well as the public sector. The guest of honour for the event was Hon Dr. Richard Nduhura the Minister of State for general duties. Other prominent dignitaries included Dr. Kenya Mugisha, the Ag. director of health services (MOH), Mr. Bruce McFarland the Contracting officer from USAID Uganda, Mr. William Glass The director of Strategic Communication Programs JHUCCP To give a unique flavour to the event, the AFFORD partner organisations and other private sector partners various stakeholders’ were invited to exhibit work done under the AFFORD initiative. In addition AFFORD demonstrated its unique communication skills of education through entertainment through a display of thematic innovative communication through dance, by a youth dance group that presented an exceptional illustration of the famous “Get off the sexual network”. Commitment and support from the leadership at the Ministry of health and a dynamic, cohesive partnership were some of the factors that several people talked about when asked why they thought the AFFORD project was a success. A couple of the interviewed guests applauded a well-organized event and sited the innovative communication strategies AFFORD/UHMG has implemented. Mr Romano Fernandes, the Chief of Party of AFFORD who gave the opening remarks and an overview of the AFFORD project shared some of the achievements under various health interventions over the past 5 years. He underscored the tremendous contribution of public-private partnerships that drove AFFORD’s work to unimaginable heights. He added that creation of UHMG was a major achievement and a great example of how the projects’ achievements can be sustained by strengthening of an indigenous organization. His speech was followed by the AFFORD Documentary film highlighting the great work that AFFORD has done over the past 5 years William Glass the Director of Strategic Communication programs JHU/CCP, presented to the audience research findings that drive all program interventions under AFFORD/UHMG work. He highlighted the importance of evidence based programming which was a key ingredient to the successful implementation of AFFORD’s programs. Research showed a dramatic change of lifestyles and behaviours with a positive impact on especially the far to reach communities within Uganda. Mrs Emily Katarikawe, UHMG Managing Director, happy to have been nurtured by the AFFORD initiative and now the driver of change for a sustainable indigenous organisation shared the way forward. Key steps that would guide this process include, expanding boundaries and tap deeper into the rural areas; Mobilizing and upgrading skills of the private for profit providers and ensuring that UHMG is a credible, honest, transparent, successful and sustainable institution. She concluded with the words of Ralph Wando. “We will not go where the pathway leads but rather we will go where there is no path way and leave a trail.” Further she stated that this is the only way we can continue to be a relevant leader in health marketing in this country.” The USAID Contracting Officer Mr. Bruce McFarland was happy to note that the AFFORD Health Marketing initiative had been of great value both to the American and Ugandan people who have worked together with enthusiasm and dedication to improve the life of Ugandans. He informed the audience that USAID would gladly collaborate and support partnerships/initiatives like AFFORD in the future. The Ag Director health services. Dr. Kenya Mugisha thanked AFFORD and UHMG for complementing the efforts of the Ministry of health and leading the health care service delivery in the private sector. The Guest of honour Dr Richard Nduhura, expressed appreciation to AFFORD for the good work it has done in addressing the health issues in Uganda. “AFFORD has contributed towards the Millennium goals 4, 5 and 6” he said. All participants at the event were provided a folder that contained fact sheets of AFFORDs’ competencies in the area of health care interventions implemented under the project.
