About the Project
The M-CARE Project is a multi-country initiative that aims to improve primary health care for adults living with multiple long-term chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including diabetes, hypertension, and mental health conditions. The project is implemented in Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda.
M-CARE was established to address the growing burden of chronic non-communicable diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa by improving how primary health care systems prevent, diagnose, and manage multiple long-term conditions.
The project is being implemented in Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda, bringing together partners to strengthen integrated primary health care across diverse settings.
The project primarily benefits adults aged 18 years and above who are living with multiple chronic conditions, as well as frontline health workers, health facilities, and communities.
M-CARE focuses on cardiometabolic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, alongside common mental health conditions, promoting integrated care for people living with multiple illnesses.
Instead of treating each disease separately, M-CARE promotes a person-centered, integrated model of care that addresses both physical and mental health needs within primary health care.
M-CARE envisions a future where everyone in Sub-Saharan Africa, regardless of income or location, has access to integrated, high-quality, person-centered care for both physical and mental health conditions.
The mission of M-CARE is to improve the lives of people living with multiple chronic non-communicable diseases by strengthening primary health care systems through innovative, evidence-based strategies tailored to local contexts.
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.
- Support global efforts to reduce premature deaths from NCDs by 2030.
M-CARE is guided by the WHO Package of Essential Noncommunicable Disease Interventions (PEN) and the WHO Mental Health Gap Action Programme Intervention Guide (mhGAP-IG) to strengthen integrated primary health care.
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.
M-CARE adapts its strategies to the cultural, social, and economic realities of each participating country to ensure interventions are practical, effective, and sustainable.
Community engagement and digital communication are essential components of M-CARE, helping to raise awareness, improve access to services, encourage healthy behaviors, and support long-term sustainability.
The project is guided by seven core values:
- Equity
- Integration
- Evidence-Based Practice
- Cost-Effectiveness
- Scalability and Sustainability
- Local Adaptation
- Health System Strengthening
M-CARE supports international efforts to reduce premature deaths from non-communicable diseases by promoting integrated, high-quality primary health care and strengthening health systems in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Integrated care helps 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.
By strengthening primary health care services, training frontline providers, using digital innovations, and focusing on underserved communities, M-CARE makes quality healthcare more accessible and equitable.
M-CARE aims to create sustainable, scalable models of integrated primary health care that can be expanded across Sub-Saharan Africa, improving health outcomes and reducing the burden of chronic diseases for future generations.
Implementation & Partnerships
M-CARE promotes integrated, person-centred care by addressing physical and mental health together within primary healthcare. This approach helps reduce fragmented services, improves care coordination, and supports better long-term health outcomes.
Yes. Research from various countries shows that integrated care can improve early diagnosis, treatment adherence, continuity of care, and overall patient outcomes while making better use of limited healthcare resources.
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.
Person-centred care places individuals—not diseases—at the centre of healthcare. It considers each person's medical, psychological, and social needs while encouraging shared decision-making between patients and healthcare providers.
Non-expert mental healthcare refers to basic mental health services delivered by trained primary healthcare workers, nurses, or community health workers rather than specialist psychiatrists or psychologists. These providers can screen, support, refer, and monitor patients as part of integrated care.
M-CARE actively engages patients, healthcare workers, policymakers, researchers, and community representatives throughout the project. Their input helps ensure that interventions are practical, culturally appropriate, and responsive to local healthcare needs.
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.
Yes. Where appropriate, M-CARE explores digital tools to strengthen patient follow-up, improve communication, support data collection, and enhance healthcare delivery within existing primary care systems.
No. M-CARE focuses on adults aged 18 years and above living with multiple chronic conditions. Although many chronic diseases become more common with age, the project supports adults across different age groups who require integrated care.
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.
The project brings together universities, healthcare institutions, policymakers, and development partners who collaborate through research, technical expertise, capacity building, and knowledge sharing to strengthen healthcare systems across participating countries.
You can stay informed by exploring the M-CARE website, subscribing to project updates, attending webinars and events, and following M-CARE's official social media channels for the latest news, research findings, and engagement opportunities.