Clare Nsenga Foundation

Dr. Pius Bigirimana serves as the Country Director of the Clare Nsenga Foundation (CNF), where he provides overall strategic and operational leadership for the organization's work in the country. In this role, he leads planning, policy formulation, and budgeting to ensure CNF's programs are well-resourced and aligned with its mission. He also serves as the key link between CNF and government health institutions such as the Ministry of Health (MoH) and National Medical Stores (NMS), ensuring the Foundation's work is coordinated with national health priorities and systems. Beyond government relations, Dr. Bigirimana builds and maintains partnerships with other NGOs and health service providers to strengthen collaboration and avoid duplication of efforts. He also holds final approval authority over community outreach services, ensuring that all outreach activities meet CNF's standards of quality and impact before reaching the communities the Foundation serves.

The Clare Nsenga Foundation (CNF) is a non-profit, charitable organization established in 2000 to fulfill the vision of Sister Clare Nsenga, a Ugandan Catholic nun who dedicated her life to serving disadvantaged communities. After her death from breast cancer in 1993, her family and friends founded the organization to continue her dream of improving access to healthcare, education, and community support for the rural poor in Kisoro District, southwestern Uganda. Today, CNF is registered both as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization in the United States and as a non-governmental organization (NGO) in Uganda.

What the Clare Nsenga Foundation is all about;

The foundation is dedicated to improving the health and quality of life of vulnerable communities by providing accessible, affordable, and sustainable healthcare services. It believes that a healthy society is a productive and prosperous society, and therefore focuses on disease prevention, treatment, maternal and child health, and community development. Its mission is to provide sustainable quality healthcare through preventive and curative services for people living in Cyanika and the surrounding villages.

One of CNF's major achievements is the establishment of the Clare Nsenga Health Centre III in Cyanika. Opened in 2007 and expanded in 2018, the health center provides outpatient care, laboratory services, immunization, antenatal care, maternity and delivery services, health education, and emergency referrals. The facility serves around 1,500 patients every month and is integrated into Uganda's national health system, helping communities in both Uganda and neighboring Rwanda.

Beyond healthcare, the foundation carries out several community development programs. These include malaria prevention through the distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets, HIV/AIDS screening and awareness, nutrition programs for children, support for orphans and vulnerable children, women's economic empowerment, and community health education. Through these initiatives, CNF seeks to reduce disease, improve maternal and child health, and strengthen the social and economic well-being of families.

The foundation also partners with institutions such as the University Of Connecticut School Of Medicine to support medical education, research, public health outreach, and the provision of medical supplies and healthcare services. These collaborations strengthen the quality of care delivered to rural communities and contribute to the long-term sustainability of the foundation's work.

Overall, the Clare Nsenga Foundation is committed to transforming lives by expanding access to quality healthcare, promoting education and disease prevention, supporting vulnerable populations, and empowering communities to achieve better health and sustainable development. Through its clinic, outreach programs, partnerships, and donor support, the foundation continues to improve the lives of thousands of people in southwestern Uganda.