Real Projects.
Real Change.
Programs
Projects organized by the kind of support they provide
Upasuaji's work spans direct surgical access, long-term follow-up, research leadership, disability support, and specialty outreach. The structure below groups related work so each project has a clear role in the broader care pathway.
4
cohesive project areas
13
programs and project streams
3+
countries represented across current and past work
Clinical access
Cardiac care and medical support
Programs that help vulnerable children and families reach specialized care, keep treatment organized, and stay connected to follow-up.
Cardiac Surgery InitiativePediatric cardiac surgeryUganda+
Funding life-saving heart surgery for vulnerable children with congenital heart disease, including orphans and families facing financial hardship.
- Partners with Open Hearts for Orphans and the Uganda Heart Institute to identify children in greatest need.
- Supports both complex open-heart operations and essential closed-heart procedures.
- Prioritizes surgery within Uganda to reduce backlogs while strengthening Ugandan cardiac teams.
Cardiac Passport ProgramPost-operative continuityUganda+
A portable medical record that helps cardiac patients carry essential surgical and follow-up information wherever they receive care.
- Designed for patients who need long-term monitoring after complex heart procedures, valve replacements, or congenital repairs.
- Documents surgical history, implant details, medication needs, and diagnostic surveillance requirements.
- Gives local clinicians clear information for routine visits and emergencies, even when they are not cardiac specialists.
Upasuaji Medical Assistance GrantFamily supportUganda+
A co-investment grant that reimburses eligible families for critical health expenses tied to specialized pediatric care.
- Eligible families receive up to 1,000,000 Shillings (1M UGX) per year.
- Families submit valid medical receipts to a case manager to receive direct reimbursement as expenses occur, ensuring 100% financial accountability.
- Covers critical healthcare necessities, including life-saving cardiac medications, diagnostic surveillance such as Echo and ECG scans, and specialist consultations.
Surgery SponsorshipEast Africa and international referral sites+
Direct support for urgent surgical cases when patients need a pathway to care that is not otherwise available.
- Has supported travel for children to receive critical cardiac care in India.
- Also helps patients access essential procedures locally within East Africa.
- Focuses on equitable access for cases where timely surgery can be life-saving.
Local leadership
Research, training, and surgical leadership
Academic and travel support that helps East African clinicians lead research and share surgical knowledge from within the region.
Upasuaji Research Fellowship2026 cohort fullEast Africa and New York+
An academic fellowship that trains East African medical professionals to design and lead clinical research.
- Builds local capacity by giving regional surgeons tools to study health challenges in their own communities.
- Supports a shift away from relying on outside expertise for research direction.
- The current cohort is full; future fellowship interest is directed to info@upasuaji.com.
Surgical Research Travel GrantUp to $1,000COSECSA nations+
A yearly travel grant for surgical trainees presenting original research at scientific conferences within Africa.
- Covers qualified travel expenses for conferences held on the African continent.
- Open to surgical trainees in COSECSA nations, including fellows and OB/GYN trainees.
- A separate grant for international conferences outside Africa is planned for the future.
Inclusive care
Down syndrome and disability support
Family-centered programs that combine advocacy, medical education, inclusive learning, and long-term developmental support.
Down Syndrome Centres of East AfricaUganda; Tanzania coming soon+
Community hubs that support individuals with Down syndrome and their families through intake, guidance, advocacy, and connection.
- Provides family support from intake onward, including counseling, guidance, and pathways for ongoing care.
- Collaborates with medical professionals on disability etiquette and specialized care needs.
- Uses community education to counter stigma and advocate for the value and potential of individuals with Down syndrome.
Inclusive Pathways Learning InitiativeSchool within a schoolUganda+
An integrated special education model for students with Down syndrome and cognitive learning disabilities.
- Developed with the Down Syndrome Centre of Kampala to move children from isolation into supportive academic environments.
- Uses a dedicated classroom, modified curriculum, and a 1:5 teacher-to-student ratio.
- Keeps students socially immersed on a mainstream campus through shared meals, play, and assemblies.
Down Syndrome Multi-Disciplinary ClinicUganda+
A specialized medical clinic for comprehensive healthcare, developmental tracking, and long-term support.
- Designed as a multidisciplinary care setting for individuals with Down syndrome.
- Connects medical surveillance with developmental follow-up.
- Supports families through a more coordinated and proactive care model.
Specialty outreach
Surgical outreach and specialty programs
Targeted surgical support for patients and providers where specialized care, supplies, nutrition, or burn treatment are difficult to access.
Cleft SurgeryUganda and Tanzania+
A surgical outreach area focused on improving access to cleft care in communities where specialty services are limited.
- Listed by Upasuaji as part of its surgical outreach work in Uganda and Tanzania.
- Connected to broader efforts that reduce barriers to specialty surgical care.
Surgical SuppliesUganda and Tanzania+
Support for surgical teams through needed supplies and practical resources.
- Listed as a surgical outreach stream in Uganda and Tanzania.
- Complements clinical partnerships by helping care teams work with more reliable materials.
Cleft Nutrition ProgramSengerema, Tanzania+
Nutrition support connected to cleft care, helping patients become healthier candidates for treatment.
- Focused in Sengerema, Tanzania.
- Supports the care pathway around cleft treatment, where nutrition can affect readiness and recovery.
BurnsUganda and Northern Tanzania+
Support for burn patients and burn-care capacity while protecting patient privacy.
- Has sponsored or provided surgery at minimal cost for multiple acid burn patients.
- Invests in long-term capacity building by educating burn-care providers in Mbarara, Uganda, and Mwanza, Tanzania.
- Has contributed to the development of burn-care units in multiple regional hospitals.