Obongi, West Nile – Residents of Obongi District, are full of praise and gratitude following the successful completion of the UPHIA 2025 health data collection exercise by Team 17, under the national UPHIA project.
As the team prepares to transition to their next Enumeration Area (EA) in Yumbe District, the community people have expressed deep appreciation to the Ministry of Health, the Makerere University School of Public Health, and UPHIA's funding partners the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for bringing this critical health survey to their doorstep.
"We are very happy that the Ministry of Health thought about us in Obongi. This exercise has helped us understand our health status better, especially with regard to blood pressure, obesity, and other non-communicable diseases. We thank the UPHIA team for coming closer to us," said a community elder in Dello.
The UPHIA 2025 survey is not just about HIV but it is a comprehensive national health assessment collecting vital data on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension, high blood pressure, and obesity, alongside HIV-related data. The project is aimed at strengthening Uganda's public health response by providing accurate, community-level evidence for decision-making and intervention.
Speaking about the successful conclusion of the exercise in the district , Michael Opoya, the UPHIA Regional Mobilization Coordinator for West Nile, commended the smooth operations and high community cooperation.
"Everything went on smoothly. The people of West Nile are now more aware of the UPHIA survey, and I want to sincerely thank Team 17 for their discipline, teamwork, and commitment to delivering quality data from from the district ," Opoya noted.
Team 17 now sets its sights on in Yumbe District, where they are expected to continue this vital national service of gathering health data that will shape Uganda's future health priorities.
This success story would not be possible without the leadership of the Ministry of Health, the technical support of the Makerere University School of Public Health, and the generous funding from PEPFAR and the U.S. CDC. Their collaboration underlines a shared commitment to improving health outcomes and promoting evidence-based policy in Uganda.
