M-CARE PROJECT
- Home
- Research
- M-CARE
Mental health and Cardiometabolic disease CARE (M-CARE)
M-CARE (Mental health and Cardiometabolic disease CARE) is a multi-country implementation research initiative anchored in Uganda at Lira University. The project strengthens integrated care for cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs) and common mental health conditions within primary health care, with a strong focus on underserved and rural populations in Northern Uganda.
Uganda faces a growing dual burden of hypertension, diabetes, depression, and anxiety, often managed in parallel rather than as co-existing conditions. Fragmented services, limited specialist access, and health system constraints undermine long-term outcomes. M-CARE responds by embedding evidence-based, integrated care models within routine primary health services.
In Uganda, M-CARE is implemented in collaboration with district health systems and national stakeholders to translate global guidelines into locally feasible practice. The project supports frontline health workers to deliver people-centred, integrated care using routine platforms such as Health Centre IIIs and IVs. M-CARE contributes directly to Uganda’s commitments under the National NCD Strategy, Mental Health Policy, and Primary Health Care revitalisation agenda, while strengthening learning institutions such as Lira University as hubs of implementation science.
Vision
A resilient Ugandan health system where mental health and cardiometabolic care are delivered together, equitably and sustainably, at the primary care level.
Mission
To generate policy-relevant evidence and build local capacity for integrated CMD–mental health care that improves outcomes, strengthens health systems, and informs national scale-up.
Objectives
- Integrate mental health and CMD services within primary health care
- Strengthen health worker capacity using WHO-endorsed tools
- Improve detection, treatment continuity, and patient-centred care
- Generate implementation evidence to inform national policy and scale-up
Project Areas
- Integrated Cardiometabolic Care. This includes Screening, diagnosis, and follow-up for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, Risk stratification and continuity of care at primary health facilities and alignment with WHO PEN protocols
- Integrated Mental Health Care. This includes Identification and management of depression, anxiety, and alcohol use disorders, Task-sharing using WHO mhGAP-IG and Psychosocial support embedded within routine CMD care
- Health Systems Strengthening. This includes Training and mentorship of frontline health workers, strengthening referral pathways between community, primary, and tertiary care and Improving data use for decision-making at facility and district levels
- Implementation Research & Learning. This includes Use of implementation science frameworks (CFIR, RE-AIM), Embedded research to understand feasibility, acceptability, and sustainability and Policy-relevant outputs to inform Ministry of Health decision-making
project Name
Mental health and Cardiometabolic disease CARE (M-CARE)
project Funding
We are very grateful to European Union for their support in funding this project.
Project Research Team
- Associate Professor Dr Bernard Omech (Principal investigator /Country Lead (Uganda))
- Dr Maxson Kenneth Anyolitho (Project Coordinator and co-Investigator)
- Dr Amir Kabunga (Co-Investigator )
- Dr Udho Samson (Co-Investigator)
- Associate Professor Judith Akello Abal (Co-Investigator )
Focus Areas
Lira, Kole and Oyam-Uganda
Contact Information - Uganda
M-CARE Uganda Secretariat
Faculty of Public Health
Lira University
Lira City, Northern Uganda
Our Partners & Collaborators
