Acknowledgments The ABCE project in Uganda is a collaboration between
Florence Alanyo, Michael Asiimwe, Paul Bazongere, Palma
States. This project has benefited greatly from key inputs and
Vivien Kayaga, George Kiggundu, Stephen Kyaligonza,
Makerere University. We are most grateful to these organiza-
Ojok, James Okello, Mark Opolot, Robert Ogen, Betty
IDRC and IHME at the University of Washington in the United
Berocwiny, Anita Kagoya, Ann Kakeeto, Patience Kandatwa,
support from the Ministry of Health of Uganda (MOH) and
David Muwanguzi, Shillah Nakato, Joel Namyeka, Alfred
tions, especially for their willingness to facilitate data access
Tumushabe, Esther Wanzira, and Ronald Wokulira.
and provide crucial content knowledge.
At the University of Washington’s Department of
We especially thank all of the health facilities and their
Laboratory Medicine, we thank Ming Chang and Joan
sharing of the facility data that made this study possible.
protocol, work on fine-tuning DBS assays, and processing
staff, who generously gave of their time and facilitated the
Dragavon for their consultations on dried blood spot (DBS)
We are also most appreciative of the patients who partic-
samples to assess viral load. We also are grateful to IHME
ipated in this work, as they, too, were giving of their time
research fellows Ian Bolliger, Carly Levitz, and Hannah
research team.
load data collection.
and kindly willing to share their experiences with the field
Peterson (now of Boston University), who assisted with viral
The quantity and quality of the data collected for the
At IHME, we wish to thank Kelsey Moore and Annie
ABCE project in Uganda are a direct reflection of the
Haakenstad for managing the project; Patricia Kiyono for
dedicated field team. It is because of their months of hard
managing the production of this report; Adrienne Chew,
and patients, that we are able to present these findings today.
support; and Ryan Diaz and Ann Kumasaka for graphic
work, traveling from facility to facility and interviewing staff
Brian Childress, William Heisel, and Kate Muller for editorial
We thank the ABCE Uganda field team, which included
design.
Susan Achumo, Francis Ageu, Grace Akalo, Irene Akumu,
Gates Foundation.
(listed alphabetically) Gertrude Abbo, Christine Achirochan,
Funding for this research came from the Bill & Melinda
3