Assessing the Preparedness and Adaptability of Health Facilities and Health Workers to Respond to Impacts of Climate Change Related Disasters in Uganda: A Mixed Methods Study

About this CARP project

Climate change has increased the health risks in Uganda, including vector-borne diseases and natural disasters. These challenges threaten critical aspects of health facilities' functioning, such as workforce, sanitation, energy, and infrastructure. Uganda has 6,937 health facilities comprising hospitals and health centers (II, III, and IV). Kasese District, a disaster-prone district, has 117 health facilities, whereas Yumbe District, a refugee-affected district, has 39. However, the level of preparedness of these health facilities to respond to the impacts of climate change and health workers’ perceptions about climate change and its impacts are not yet known. This research focuses on examining the readiness of Ugandan health facilities and workers in Kasese and Yumbe Districts to manage climate-induced impacts, exploring readiness factors, health worker perspectives, and current mitigation measures to enhance resilience against climate-related health risks.

Study site

The study will be conducted in two disaster-prone districts in Uganda affected by climate change: Kasese District in the Western Region and Yumbe District in the West Nile Region.

Main Research Questions

What is the level of awareness among health workers about the impacts of climate change-related disasters on public health?
What is the current level of preparedness and adaptability of health facilities to respond to the impacts of climate change-related disasters on public health?
What are the factors that facilitate or hinder the preparedness and adaptability of health facilities to respond to the impacts of climate change-related disasters on public health?

How does this project relate to or support localized disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation?

This project directly addresses disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation by examining the resilience of health facilities and health workers to climate change impacts, aiming to identify gaps and opportunities for strengthening Uganda's health sector against climate-related challenges. This study aims to give recommendations based on evidence to improve the resilience of health infrastructure and health workers in Uganda, thereby contributing to more effective disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation initiatives. Local governments, district health departments, and the Ministry of Health can use the findings to address vulnerabilities in these communities.

Our research team is made up of Makerere University master's students studying public health disaster management. Members of the team have backgrounds in environmental and community health, social sciences, and community engagement. Professor Christopher Garimoi Orach will guide and advise the team throughout the project.