From 25 to 31 October, CUAMM teams in Ivory Coast and Uganda joined forces to organise an exchange visit bringing together representatives of the Union of Religious for Health and Social Services in Côte d’Ivoire (URSSCI), the Ivorian Bishops’ Conference, the Uganda Catholic Medical Bureau (UCMB), the Joint Medical Store (JMS) and local faith-based healthcare facilities.
The initiative aimed to strengthen the organisational and institutional capacities of Ivorian faith-based healthcare organisations by fostering the exchange of experiences and identifying effective models of public-private partnership in healthcare.
In this sense, Uganda offered a valuable opportunity for learning. Through UCMB, an established network supporting Catholic healthcare facilities across the country, participants from Ivory Coasthad the chance to explore approaches to organisational management, human resources, financial management, quality of care and collaboration with public authorities. These experiences provided useful insights for URSSCI as it works to strengthen its organisational capacity and consolidate its partnership with Ivory Coast’sMinistry of Health.
Learning also took place on the ground. Through discussions, institutional meetings and visits to healthcare facilities, participants explored six key areas of health systems: health service delivery, health workforce management, health information systems, access to essential medicines and medical equipment, health financing and sustainability, and governance and institutional leadership. The exchange provided an opportunity to examine existing practices, share challenges and identify approaches that could be adapted to the Ivorian context.
Beyond the technical discussions, the visit fostered mutual learning, dialogue and shared reflection, strengthening ties and collaboration between faith-based healthcare networks across Africa.
This exchange is part of the project “A Future for Health: Ensuring Quality Care for Mothers and Newborns in Côte d’Ivoire”, implemented by the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Rome, with funding from Italian Cooperation and implementation by Doctors with Africa CUAMM.
We strongly believe that strengthening faith-based healthcare organisations is essential to building more inclusive and resilient health systems. Across Africa, Faith-Based Organisations (FBOs) play a crucial role in delivering healthcare to the most vulnerable populations. Often operating in remote and underserved areas, they are on the front lines of service delivery, maintaining close relationships with local communities and responding to the needs of those who might otherwise struggle to access care.
Yet, despite their contribution, FBOs often face significant challenges, including limited supplies, shortages of qualified health workers and insufficient funding. Their services are not always adequately integrated into national health systems. Supporting these organisations therefore means investing in their institutional capacities, providing training and technical assistance, and ensuring their meaningful involvement in local health system strengthening initiatives through respectful collaboration and shared learning.
By strengthening the capacities of faith-based healthcare organisations and fostering effective public-private partnerships, the project aims to improve the quality, accessibility and continuity of maternal and neonatal care in Ivory Coast, ensuring that more women and newborns can access the healthcare they need.
