What We Do

Health systems strengthening is a core pillar of BACHI’s approach to building a resilient, responsive, and sustainable health system. BACHI functions as a critical systems integrator within Uganda’s health sector, serving as a connector tissue that links national policy, donor investments, and community-level service delivery. In a context where resources are often fragmented by disease-specific programming or parallel donor requirements, BACHI works deliberately to reinforce existing health system building blocks rather than establish unsustainable parallel structures.

Our systems strengthening approach ensures that the national health agenda of the Ministry of Health is effectively translated into measurable results at the last mile, particularly within the Busoga and Greater Masaka regions. By bridging gaps between policy, financing, implementation, and accountability, BACHI strengthens the long-term capacity of government systems to deliver equitable, high-quality health services and promotes a coordinated, whole-system approach to public health.

A central component of this work is the enhancement of digital governance, health information systems, and data use for decision-making. BACHI supports districts to move beyond viewing data as a reporting obligation toward using it as a real-time strategic resource. Through the application of digital tools such as Kobo Collect and GIS-based mapping, we enable District Health Teams (DHTs) to identify service coverage gaps, target underserved populations, and ensure that no household remains invisible within the health system. As a trusted indigenous intermediary, BACHI also aligns international donor standards—such as those of GAVI, PATH, and the Global Fund—with national and district-level systems, strengthening transparency, accountability, and harmonized reporting.

BACHI places strong emphasis on health workforce development and professionalization through a multi-tiered, continuous capacity-building model that spans community to facility level. At the community level, we support Village Health Teams (VHTs) and Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) to transition from passive volunteers to skilled frontline health actors capable of integrated case management, household screening, and closed-loop referral systems. VHTs and CHEWs are trained to identify un and under immunized children, maternal and newborn danger signs, conduct community surveillance, and facilitate timely referrals, thereby strengthening the continuum of care between households and health facilities.

At the facility level, BACHI provides on-site clinical mentorship for nurses, midwives, clinical officers, and other health workers. Rather than relying on off-site trainings, our embedded mentorship model improves quality of care by reinforcing adherence to Ministry of Health guidelines, strengthening clinical decision-making, and supporting the use of standardized tools—including the SRQ-20 for mental health screening. This approach promotes ethical, rights-based, and patient-centered care while improving service quality and provider confidence.

To sustain these gains, BACHI also strengthens health facility governance and management by building the capacity of Health Unit Management Committees (HUMCs). We train committee members in financial management, resource stewardship, drug and supply chain oversight, and community accountability. This support helps prevent service disruptions such as drug stock-outs, enhances transparency, and empowers communities to actively participate in facility oversight and advocacy at district level.

Through this comprehensive systems strengthening approach, BACHI ensures that all levels of the health system—from VHTs/CHEWs in remote villages to clinical teams at Health Centre IIIs, IVs and hospitals—operate in a coordinated and resilient manner. By strengthening institutions, people, data systems, and governance structures, BACHI contributes to a health system that continues to deliver high-quality care long after individual projects end.