By Patrick Opio
Senior Communications Officer
The 2nd Annual General Assembly of the M-CARE Project hosted at Lira University, Uganda, from 30th September to 1st October 2026, has ended.
The M-CARE Project involves key African and European institutions collaborating to improve integrated care for multiple chronic and mental health conditions in Uganda, Ghana, and Kenya. The 5-year project is funded by the European Union (EU).
Lira University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Jasper Ogwal Okeng praised the project for bringing together partners to strengthen integrated primary health care across diverse settings. He was opening the Annual Assembly on 30th September 2026.
Prof. Ogwal Okeng, VC Lira University addressing the Assembly
Instead of treating each disease separately, Prof. Ogwal Okeng said, M-CARE promotes a person-centered, integrated model of care that addresses both physical and mental health needs within primary health care. “This is a great stride in the treatment of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs)…. we must adopt and implement the approach, fragmented treatment of NCDs cases should be discouraged, outdated,” Prof. Ogwal Okeng said.
The collaborating institutions are Amsterdam University Medical Centers (Amsterdam UMC, Netherlands), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, University of Ghana, University of Copenhagen, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), Lira University and African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC).
Dr. Wouter Muneke addressing the meeting
The Project Leader and Overall Principal Investigator, Prof. Charles Agyemang, from Amsterdam UMC, Netherlands, said, the initiative is guided by the WHO Package of Essential Non-Communicable Disease Interventions (PEN) and the WHO Mental Health Gap Action Programme Intervention Guide (mhGAP-IG) to strengthen integrated primary health care.
Dr. Wouter Muneke, Co-Investigator from Amsterdam University Medical Centres (UMC), said the multi-country initiative targets improving primary health care for adults living with multiple long-term chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including diabetes, hypertension, and mental health conditions.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bernard Omech, the Principal Investigator-Lira University(Uganda), said M-CARE stresses on cardiometabolic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, alongside common mental health conditions, promoting integrated care for people living with multiple illnesses.
“In Uganda, we are ready to select 60 health facilities from the 78 identified from Oyam, Kole and Lira implementing areas, the exercise is amazing and impactful,” Prof. Dr. Omech said.
Prof. Omech commended the project investigators and partners for accepting to hold the General Assembly in Uganda. “This is a good gesture and testimony indicating your love for Uganda and Lira University in particular,” Prof. Omech said.
Prof. Charles Agyemang addressing the Assembly
Dr. Gershin Asiki, Co-Investigator, from African Population and Health Research Center(APHRC), Kenya, said the project aims to strengthen primary health care for adults with chronic physical and mental health conditions, implement integrated care using WHO PEN and mhGAP-IG guidelines, adapt interventions to local contexts, increase community engagement through digital platforms and outreach, improve patient engagement, retention in care, and health outcomes and support global efforts to reduce premature deaths from NCDs by 2030.
Prof. Marie Norredam, Co-Investigator (University of Copenhagen) said the project supports health systems by training primary health care workers, improving service delivery, promoting integrated care models, and encouraging innovation in low-resource settings.
Prof. Dr. Judith E. Bosmans, Co-Investigator from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam), revealed that the M-CARE Project website serves as a vital digital hub that supports the implementation of integrated chronic and mental healthcare across Sub-Saharan Africa by centralizing resources, sharing updates, and aligning multi-country partners.
When fully taken up by the frontline health workers, Dr. Samson Udho (Lira University) said, integrated care will help ensure that people with multiple chronic conditions receive coordinated, comprehensive treatment that addresses both physical and mental health, improving health outcomes and quality of life.
Dr. Maxson Anyolitho (Lira University) called for attitude change among health workers as the integrated care can improve early diagnosis, treatment adherence, continuity of care, and overall patient outcomes while making better use of limited healthcare resources.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Omech Bernard making a speech
Dr. Anyolitho revealed that the project equips frontline healthcare providers with practical knowledge, training, and evidence-based tools that enable them to deliver integrated care for both physical and mental health conditions within primary healthcare settings.
Dr. Frederick Murunga Wekesah, Co-Investigator (African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) notes that the project addresses common barriers to effective chronic disease care, including fragmented services, workforce shortages, weak referral systems, limited resources, and difficulties in providing coordinated long-term care.
Although many chronic diseases become more common with age, Dr. Alfred Doku (University of Ghana), said the project supports adults across different age groups who require integrated care.
Dr. Doku underscored the importance for having a powerful and interactive project website and social media handles to boost visibility and communications globally. “We need to keep posting and updating our website with contents of the implementation activities. Each participating country should designate someone responsible for the communications drive,” he said.
Rather than creating parallel health systems, M-CARE strengthens existing primary healthcare services through practical strategies such as task-sharing, improved referral systems, community engagement, capacity building, and appropriate digital health solutions.
Others present physically or online at the meeting were Dr. Erik Beune, Dr. Frank Groen, Dr.Pearl Aovare, Dr. Leonard Baatiema, Dr. Solomon Nyame, Dr.Gordon Amoh, Dr.Wisdom Kpolar Yaw, Dr. Marilyn Mawusi Azumah, Dr. Ama de-Graft Aikins, Dr. Perfect Yabani and Dr. Judith Bosmans.
Others are Dr. Rosa Leek, Dr. Gershim Asiki, Dr. Frederik Wekesah, Dr. Samuel Iddi, Dr. Peter Otieno, Dr.Catherine Kahare, Dr. Marie Norredam, Dr. Maxson Anyolitho, Dr. Samson Udho, Assoc. Prof. Akello Abal(also Co-Investigator), Patrick Lulu, Lamunu Winnie Christine, Project Administrative Assistant (Lira University) and Gutu Jastine, Project Administrative Assistant(Lira University).
