Health Systems Strengthening, HIV/AIDS
How U.S. Foreign Assistance Helped a Christian Organization Strengthen HIV Care in Uganda
A Christian organization in Uganda wants Americans to know their investment helped support a reliable, efficient local supply chain for HIV medicines, reaching over 500 health facilities and more than 451,000 people living with HIV and AIDS in the nation.
In October 2021, the Joint Medical Store (JMS) began receiving funding through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), implemented by USAID. The goal was to ensure a sustainable supply of HIV commodities across Uganda’s network of Private Not-For-Profit (PNFP) health facilities.
Photo: U.S Ambassador to Uganda William W. Popp viewing some of the HIV commodities in the JMS warehouse ready for distribution.
With 53 staff at full implementation—ranging from logistics experts to technical advisors—JMS worked to reduce stockouts, improve inventory systems, and streamline distribution. These improvements meant people living with HIV had reliable access to antiretroviral therapy, diagnostics, and other critical medicines.
Building Sustainability
One of the most important outcomes of the USAID-supported project was long-term sustainability. With the funding, JMS didn’t just deliver medications—they built an infrastructure. The organization digitized its ordering and logistics systems, introducing Microsoft Dynamics 365, an advanced system for organizing warehouse operations and keeping track of medicines and supplies. They also trained staff in forecasting inventory needs based on data, and the number of facilities using electronic Logistics Management Information Systems (eLMIS) jumped from just 32 percent to 94 percent.
Photo: A JMS staff member in the central warehouse for storing HIV commodities for distribution to private not-for-profit facilities in Uganda.
These tools and new skills now support JMS’s broader operations, including public and private sector programs. In short, U.S. foreign assistance helped JMS grow stronger and more self-reliant, ensuring continued service to Ugandan communities.
A Christian Calling Amplified by Global Partners
JMS approaches healthcare with a commitment to serve with integrity and compassion. The work supported by the U.S. allowed them to reach the most vulnerable with dignity and care.
In their own words, “The faith-based system has been reaching approximately 30 percent of people living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda. This funding allowed us to manage health commodities with stewardship, transparency, and service above self.”
Photo: JMS staff prepare medicines for distribution.
The Dangers of Pulling Back
In March 2025, USAID communicated the early close-out of warehousing and distribution support, as part of the large rollback of foreign assistance. As a result, JMS was forced to reduce staff by half and scale back its logistics work. The implications are significant: with no support for last-mile delivery, delays in antiretroviral therapy, diagnostics, and essential medicine provision could affect the more than 450,000 people receiving medicines.
In addition, mentorship, data quality support, and risk management assistance at the facility level have also been paused, risking that progress may be reversed.
Why It Matters for Americans
JMS’s story offers some insight for those in the U.S. questioning the value of foreign aid. American investments have helped build a resilient, local supply chain serving hundreds of thousands of people, while also generating demand for U.S.-manufactured kits, supporting global health research, and strengthening America’s leadership in global health.
As JMS puts it, “A poorly controlled HIV pandemic anywhere in the world is a risk to the whole world. Drug-resistant strains and increased new infections can affect anybody, anywhere.” With well-crafted partnerships, local actors can build strong health systems that provide care for local communities and help protect populations across the globe.