Midterm evaluation report national ORT program, Uganda

External evaluation covers the period 1984-87; methodology is not noted. On the whole, the purpose of the project - to increase awareness of ORT and the availability of oral rehydration salts in Uganda - is being achieved. The considerable political unrest in Uganda during the first phase of the project and the resulting economic collapse have been and continue to be major obstacles to the implementation of any development activity. The USAID mission was actually closed after the coup in 1985 and has been reestablished only recently. International staff were reluctant to stay in or come to Uganda (which had an impact on the technical assistance provided by UNICEF) and the national staff that still remained in the country worked in extremely difficult material conditions. Considering the situation, UNICEF, and also Ministry of Health staff, should be commended for what has been done to date. Many problems encountered by the project have to be viewed within that context. At this point, the supply of oral rehydration salts to Uganda is slowly catching up with the backlog; a reliable and timely delivery system is a prerequisite to more effective - and much needed - in-country management. The health staff training component of the program has, on the whole, been implemented satisfactorily. The operational research component is suffering from a lack of technical expertise and is still in the initial stages. The second phase of the project will focus on reaching the population and will include a major mass communications component. Management issues at the peripheral health units should also be addressed if efficient and appropriate basic health care is going to be provided to the rural areas. The government's policy move towards decentralization, integration, and promotion of self-reliance activity should be encouraged. (Author abstract, modified)