Winner of the 2024 USAID Health Systems Strengthening Case Competition
![](https://www.acteast.org/sites/act-east/files/styles/nugget-mobile/public/content/paragraphs/text/images/2024-07-03/2024%20USAID%20Health%20Systems%20Strengthening%20Case%20competition%20winner.jpg?itok=tcypM2dQ×tamp=1720016116)
Enabling whole-of-society participation to improve health system performance and health outcomes can only happen when the most marginalized populations are not only considered and reached but are actively included in the design of solutions. This approach is taken by the government of Uganda with support from USAID’s Act to End Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) | East (Act | East) program—led by RTI International and supported by gender equity and social inclusion (GESI) partner WI-HER—through a GESI Behavior Change Activity to achieve the “last mile” in trachoma elimination in Uganda.
In June 2024, the USAID Health Systems Strengthening Case Competition recognized the importance of this work and Act | East’s application of WI-HER’s iDARE methodology by selecting our case, “Fostering Equity in Neglected Tropical Disease Services Through a Community Led Approach in Uganda: Closing the Gaps in Trachoma Mass Drug Administration and Uptake.” The case was selected out of more than 100 submissions, learn more about the competition and 2024 winners here.
On July 15th, 2024 the USAID HSS Case Competition will host a Virtual Showcase event to highlight this groundbreaking work in health systems strengthening and share how Act | East operationalizes core elements of the USAID Vision for Health System Strengthening to reach the “last mile” in trachoma elimination in Uganda.
We also applaud the other winners of the 2024 HSS Case Competition:
- “A Model of Social Innovation in Health Care Systems for Reducing Severe Maternal Morbidity” - LHSS/Abt Global
- “Evidence-Based Action to Achieve Indonesia’s Digital Health Transformation: Use of the Digital Maturity Index Assessment to Measure Health Information System Progression” - CHISU/JSI