Project

Providing Primary Healthcare in Uganda's Palorinya Settlement

lds-project-hero-uganda-17102019.jpg
Project

Providing Primary Healthcare in Uganda's Palorinya Settlement

Following an escalation in the country’s ongoing civil war, one million South Sudanese refugees fled to neighboring Uganda between 2016-2017. Uganda currently hosts the largest refugee population in Africa.

The majority of refugees settled in seven settlements along the country’s northern border with South Sudan. At the peak of the emergency, an average of 6,000 people crossed into Uganda every day.

In December 2016 the Palorinya settlement opened in the Moyo District in Northern Uganda. By May 2017 its population far exceeded the intended capacity of 100,000 people. As of August 2019, the settlement’s population totalled more than 120,000.

Despite the country’s own economic challenges, Uganda remains committed to its progressive refugee policies, which give displaced people access to the same schools, healthcare, and employment opportunities as native Ugandans. Following the massive influx of refugees during this short time frame, Relief International relaunched our operations in Uganda to ensure refugees and members of the host community bordering the Palorinya settlement maintained access to critical healthcare and nutrition services.

With support from Latter-day Saint Charities, Relief International took over three primary healthcare clinics in Uganda’s Palorinya settlement from another organization in late 2017. These clinics were located in some of the most densely packed areas of the settlement, and served as the primary source of healthcare for a catchment area of 100,000 people.

Our teams provided consultations, minor surgical and trauma treatment, referrals, HIV testing and counseling, nutrition screenings, and reproductive health services. Each clinic was also outfitted with an ambulance for transporting patients in need of specialized care and in cases of emergency.

Project Profile

Location

UGANDA – Moyo District

People Reached

22,823

Sector

  • sector_icons_healthcare_blk.png Health and Nutrition

Status

past