Expanding access of Cooperative health Insurance

1. Project Overview

In Northern Uganda, many families face significant barriers to accessing affordable healthcare, often relying on out-of-pocket payments that delay care and worsen health outcomes.

Karin Community Initiative Uganda (KCIU) is addressing this challenge by combining community-based health insurance (CHI) with mobile outreach services, ensuring healthcare reaches even the most remote villages.

Our approach is simple but powerful:

• Bring services directly to communities
• Build trust through quality care
• Introduce sustainable health financing through CHI

During May 2026, KCIU conducted two community outreach events, serving vulnerable populations in Gulu: Tiyoka Village and Aence Village (Burial Outreach)

Total People Reached: 69 community members served

Services Delivered:

• Blood pressure screening
• HIV testing and counseling
• Malaria testing
• STI screening
• Typhoid testing
• General consultations
• Referrals for advanced care
• Linkage to continued medical support

3. Impact Metrics (What We Achieved)

Health Access

• 69 individuals received direct medical services
•  Multiple patients referred to higher-level facilities for continued care
•  Expanded access to eye care and diagnostics

This demonstrates that community outreach can partially sustain itself, supporting long-term CHI expansion.

Community Engagement

•  Active participation from:
• Village Health Teams (VHTs)
• Community leaders
•  Increased awareness of:
• Preventive healthcare
• Affordable care options through CHI

4. Why This Matters

In many rural communities:

• Distance to health facilities is a major barrier
• Cost prevents early medical care
• Preventable conditions become life-threatening

Through outreach and CHI, we are:

• Bringing healthcare closer to families
• Reducing financial burden
• Encouraging early treatment

5. Story from the Community (Donor-Focused Case Study)

“We Didn’t Know Help Could Come to Us”

At the outreach in Tiyoka, a young mother named Amina came with her child, who had been suffering from recurring fever.

For weeks, she had delayed seeking care because:

• The nearest clinic was far
• She could not afford treatment

During the outreach:

• Her child was tested for malaria and treated immediately
• She received counseling on preventive care
• She was referred for follow-up support

Before leaving, Amina shared:

“I thought we had to struggle alone. Today I learned help can come to us.”

This moment reflects the heart of our work—meeting people where they are, both physically and financially.

6. Community Voices

“These services help us before we become seriously sick. We need more of them.”

“If this is what insurance can bring, we are ready to join.”

These voices show growing community trust in CHI as a solution.

7. Challenges We Faced

• Weather disruptions affected outreach activities
• Limited transport and resources restricted coverage
• Occasional shortages of essential medicines

Despite these, community turnout remained strong, showing high demand for services.

8. What We Learned

• Community outreach is a critical entry point for health insurance enrollment
• People are more willing to join CHI after:
• Experiencing quality care
• Building trust with providers
• Combining service delivery + education + financing is key to success

9. What’s Next

With your support, we aim to:

Scale Our Impact

• Expand outreach to more villages
• Reach more underserved communities

Strengthen CHI Adoption

• Increase community enrollment
• Improve awareness campaigns

Improve Systems

• Introduce digital tools for:
• Patient tracking
• Financial management
• Strengthen medicine supply chains

10. How Your Support Helps

Your contribution makes it possible to:

• Deliver lifesaving medical services in remote areas
• Reduce healthcare costs for families
• Build sustainable community health systems
• Expand community health insurance programs

11. Closing Message

Every outreach is more than a service—it is a step toward dignity and access.

By investing in community-led healthcare, you are helping families not just survive, but thrive.

Together, we are building a future where no one is left behind because of where they live or what they can afford.