Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

To overcome health inequities, establish a resilient health care system, and promote the peaceful coexistence of refugees and nationals, the Government of Uganda is prioritizing the integration of health services for refugees and host communities. On the ground, the UNHCR in Uganda has been supporting the Ugandan Government integrate health services by working to strengthen Village Health Teams (VHTs) to deliver quality services to new arrival, long-term refugees, and host communities. Various studies have been conducted on the integration of health services and VHTs, and have found that the integration of health services is having a positive impact on service delivery and that these community health services are viewed as a fundamental part of Uganda’s health system. To date, very little is known about the health economics of VHTs, yet research in this area is vital to support the Ugandan Government and its development partners implement its health integration strategy. Thus, the aim of this research will be to analyze the health economics of VHTs, using a mixed-methods approach through a desk review of relevant documents and VHT system data, focus group discussions with District health teams, and in-depth interviews with health experts. It is anticipated that this research will find that VHTs are cost-effective in preventing and treating malaria in Uganda, thus providing the rationale for continued investment and integration of these health services. Overall, this will be the first study conducted on the health economics of VHTs in Uganda, driving the narrative on the transition from humanitarian to government and development-funded health services in Uganda, a model country for other refugee-hosting countries around the world.