Conference Abstract | Volume 8, Abstract NACNDC/19JASH005 (Poster B29) | Published: 17 Nov 2025
Paul Kasu1,2, Dhatemwa Juma1, David Balikitenda2, James Mwesigwa2, Eva Gakumba2, Irene Nakiriggya2, Hillary Alima2, Tonny Tumwesigye2
1Nabitende Health Center III, Iganga, Uganda, 2Uganda Protestant Medical Bureau (UPMB), Kampala, Uganda
&Corresponding author: Paul Kasu, Nabitende Health Center III, Iganga, Uganda & Uganda Protestant Medical Bureau (UPMB), Kampala, Uganda. Email: dfpk91@gmail.com, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-9498-6336
Received: 18 Aug 2025, Accepted: 20 Oct 2025, Published: 17 Nov 2025
Domain: Non-Communicable Diseases
Keywords: Non-communicable diseases, Hypertension, Community-based model, Village Health Teams (VHTs), Rural Uganda
©Paul Kasu et al Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health (ISSN: 2664-2824). This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution International 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Cite this article: Paul Kasu et al Community-based model for comprehensive NCD management in rural Uganda: The Nabitende health centre III experience. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health. 2025;8(ConfProc6):00005. https://doi.org/10.37432/JIEPH-CONFPRO6-00005
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for 36% of deaths in Uganda (MoH, 2023), with hypertension prevalence at 26% and diabetes at 3-4% (Uganda National NCD Survey, 2023). In rural areas, NCD screening and management remain limited. Nabitende Health Center III serves 21,890 people in Iganga District, where baseline assessment showed <10% hypertension awareness and no structured NCD care pathway. In July 2022, we implemented a quality improvement project to strengthen NCD screening and linkage to care.
The intervention, supported by UPMB through Healthy Hearts Africa/AstraZeneca partnership, trained 5 Village Health Teams (VHTs) and 3 clinical staff. VHTs received training in blood pressure measurement, referral protocols, and health education delivery. Clinicians were trained on NCD diagnosis and management guidelines. Patients with confirmed hypertension (≥140/90 mmHg on two separate occasions) were enrolled into care groups of 20, receiving monthly VHT home visits for adherence support and facility-based medication refills. In 2024, Sanofi GHU support enabled integration of diabetes and breast cancer screening components.
Between July 2022 and December 2024, the program conducted 53 community education sessions and 36 radio talks, reaching approximately 31,900 people. Of 11,500 individuals screened for hypertension, 512 (4.5%) with confirmed diagnosis were enrolled into 22 care groups, with 78% (n=399) retained in care at 6 months. Among those retained, 62% achieved blood pressure control (<140/90 mmHg). Diabetes screening of 1,589 individuals identified 178 new cases (11.2%) and 102 pre-diabetic cases (6.4%). Breast examination was provided to 1,080 women, with 121 (12.1%) referred for further evaluation. A functional referral system to Iganga General Hospital was established, with 87% of referred patients completing specialist consultation.
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