Uganda launches new initiative to strengthen emergency care and save lives | WHO

Kampala, Uganda – Every day across Uganda, health workers face life-or-death emergencies: a child struggling to breathe from severe pneumonia, a mother experiencing postpartum haemorrhage, a victim of a road traffic crash, or a patient arriving with severe asthma or diabetic complications. In many of these situations, survival depends on what happens in the first few minutes of care.

Recognizing the urgent need to improve emergency care, the Ministry of Health, with technical and financial support from the World Health Organization (WHO), WHO Foundation Laerdal Foundation and partners, [IS1.1][KK1.2]has launched the Acute Care Transformation through Basic Emergency Care (ACTxBEC) Initiative, a nationwide effort aimed at strengthening frontline emergency care services and reducing avoidable deaths.

The initiative seeks to improve the ability of health workers to recognize, assess and manage life-threatening conditions quickly and effectively, while strengthening the systems that support emergency care across Uganda.

Why emergency care matters

Uganda faces a growing burden of acute illnesses and injuries. More than half of the 855.6 emergency cases per 100,000 population recorded in the 2024/25 financial year were trauma-related. At the same time, pneumonia remains one of the leading causes of death among children under five, while postpartum haemorrhage continues to be a major cause of maternal deaths. Road traffic injuries also claim thousands of lives every year.

Many of these deaths can be prevented through timely triage, early recognition of severe illness, rapid stabilization, effective teamwork and prompt referral.

Evidence from previous implementation of the BEC course developed by WHO, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and International Federation of Emergency Medicine (IFEM) shows that strengthening emergency care skills can significantly improve patient outcomes. Studies in Uganda and other low- and middle-income countries found reductions in hospital mortality ranging from 34% to 50% after implementing the programme. 

Scaling up lifesaving emergency care

At the heart of ACTxBEC is a commitment to ensuring that health workers across Uganda have the skills and support needed to provide timely, quality emergency care when every second counts. The initiative combines self-paced online learning with hands-on training, team simulations, workplace drills and ongoing mentorship, helping health workers strengthen their competence, confidence and teamwork in managing life-threatening emergencies.

Over the next three years, the initiative will be rolled out in 200 health facilities across 85 districts, reaching approximately 2,400 healthcare providers. Participating facilities will establish trained champions to lead regular simulation exercises, mentoring and continuous learning, ensuring that skills are maintained long after the initial training is completed.

Beyond training, the initiative will use routine data and quality improvement approaches to strengthen emergency care systems and inform future policy and practice. By 2028, Uganda aims to have 200 health facilities better equipped to provide timely, safe and effective emergency care, contributing to lower hospital mortality and better outcomes for patients facing critical illness and injury.

Uganda is one of four countries implementing the ACTxBEC Initiative, alongside Ethiopia, Rwanda and Tanzania. The multi-country programme provides an opportunity to generate evidence on how strengthening emergency care through training, simulation, mentorship and continuous learning can improve clinical outcomes. Lessons from the four countries will help inform future efforts to strengthen emergency care systems across the region and beyond.

A shared commitment to better care

The launch brought together government officials, health professionals, academic institutions and development partners committed to improving emergency care services in Uganda. The Ministry of Health is leading implementation through a national coordination mechanism, while WHO is providing technical support and oversight. The African Federation for Emergency Medicines and the Emergency Care Association of Uganda are supporting the implementation of the BEC courses in health facilities.

“When we manage emergency as well, we prevent 50% of the poor outcomes.  I am glad that our partners are standing with us in this endeavor, which makes our health systems more resilient for everyone,” said Dr Charles Olaro, Director General for Health Services and the Chair of the National Coordination Committee for the ACTxBEC initiative, speaking on behalf of the Hon Minister of Health, Dr Chris Baryomunsi.

Speaking at the launch, the WHO Representative to Uganda, Dr Kasonde Mwinga highlighted the transformative potential of strengthening emergency care systems.

“Every day, children, mothers and families face medical emergencies where survival depends on the quality of care delivered in the first few minutes. The Acute Care Transformation Initiative is an investment in the skills, systems and teamwork needed to ensure that when emergencies happen, lifesaving care is available where and when it is needed most,” Dr Mwinga stated.
 

Investing in universal health coverage

Beyond improving emergency services, ACTxBEC is expected to contribute to Uganda’s broader health goals, including Universal Health Coverage, quality of care and health system resilience. Strong emergency care systems not only save lives every day but also improve preparedness for outbreaks, disasters and other public health emergencies. 
The initiative reflects a growing recognition that access to timely, quality emergency care is essential to a resilient health system.

As Uganda embarks on this ambitious scale-up, the message is clear: the knowledge and tools to save lives already exist. The challenge now is ensuring that these life-saving skills reach every health facility, every health worker and every patient who needs them.