
Uganda
PARTNER
Peter C. Alderman Foundation

Support community outreach programs in rural areas of Uganda
2014 - 2016
Recent studies estimate the prevalence of PTSD symptoms at 54%-74% and depression symptoms at 45%-67% in Uganda, a country that has weathered a 20-year civil conflict, considered one of the world’s worst.
More than 1.8 million people were displaced internally and exposed to extreme traumatic experiences including rape, torture, mutilation, abduction and destruction of property. Today, long after the conflict has ended, many Ugandans with PTSD and depression face challenges in returning to normal life, caring for their families or living productively. Yet psychiatric care is limited to cities, so the most vulnerable, who often live in northern rural areas, lack access to treatment.
The Peter C. Alderman Foundation has developed a public-private partnership with the government to establish four mental health teams in the district level hospitals of Gulu, Arua, Kitgum and Soroti. Because many traumatized individuals in remote areas are unable to reach these clinics, Fondation d’Harcourt supports regular outreaches by a multidisciplinary team and trusted community mobilizers who help identify, contact and treat patients at home. Group and individual therapy are available, depending on specific circumstances.
PCAF’s Group Support Psychotherapy intervention was developed locally through formative research and are evaluated using randomized controlled trials (in press, findings published in The Lancet, 2015).
Project highlights
Activities

outreach

group therapy
Beneficiaries

192
outreach visits were carried out

1,934
patients received treatment

18,805
people attended health talks

2,005
people attended group therapy sessions

4
public mental health clinics involved
©Alison Wright ©BreeOna Ebrecht