My Pill Box, My Health!

A Simple Solution to a Complex Problem

How it works:

• Child-friendly, neutral pill boxes: Discreet designs that allow children to "blend in" and take their HIV medicine without fear of stigma.

• Empowering the Community: Education sessions and workshops for children, parents, and teachers to build a network of support.

• Clinical Success: Close links with local health facilities ensure a reliable supply of medication and consistent care.

Developed by the GILO Young Positives Foundation, a youth-led organisation of young people living with HIV, My Pill Box, My Health! is the first project of Mildmay’s Partner-led Innovation Fund.

The project introduces customised medication organisers: simple, structured containers divided by day and time. But it is much more than a plastic box; it is a tool for empowerment and a shield against stigma.

Why Pill Boxes?

• Simplification: They reduce dosing errors and help children take control of their own health.

• Privacy & Dignity: Each box is customised with neutral designs or stickers, allowing it to look like a normal school item, reducing the risk of "inadvertent disclosure."

• Quality of Life: By removing the anxiety of "Did I take my pill?", children can focus on being students and children first.

Working in the Kassanda District, Mildmay UK, Mildmay Uganda, and GILO will deliver a tightly scoped three-month pilot aligned with the school term calendar.

Core Activities:

1. Procurement & Customisation: Sourcing 100 child-friendly, durable pill boxes and working with children to decorate them.

2. Community Education: Running 30 dedicated workshops (10 for children, 10 for parents, and 10 for teachers) to build a 360-degree support system.

3. Reducing Stigma: Delivering school health talks reaching over 1,000 students and staff to normalise medication and foster empathy.

4. Clinical Integration: Holding partnership meetings with local health facilities to ensure that the pill boxes are supported by a consistent supply of medication.

Expected Impact: Beyond the Box

By backing this locally-led idea, the Innovation Fund aims to deliver:

• Measurable Health Outcomes: Increased ART adherence and reduced treatment failure.

• Stronger Support Systems: Teachers and parents who are trained to support, rather than just monitor, the child.

• Renewed Credibility: Using this pilot to build evidence for scaling up the project to other districts across Uganda.

What your gift achieves:

• £10 provides one child with their own customised pill box.

• £100 funds a comprehensive workshop for a group of teachers or parents.

• £950 funds a full month of the pilot, including all boxes, workshops, and school health talks.

Budget summary

If run for 3 years pilot + 2 years

Year 1: ~£9,450

Year 1: ~£9,450

Year 1: ~£9,450

TOTAL: ~£28,350

Budget Considerations

• Monitoring and evaluation is allocated at approximately 10% of overall costs.

• Pill box unit cost is £10; efforts will be made to source locally and cost-effectively.

Local partners and stakeholders

• GILO Young Positives Foundation (lead implementing partner locally).

• Mildmay Uganda (technical support and local coordination).

• Kassanda District Health Team (DHT) (endorsement, access to clinic data, sustainability).

• Headteachers & school management committees (operational permissions and classroom support).

• Local youth peer leaders (for peer education and engagement).

• Local suppliers for pill boxes (to explore cost-effective procurement and local customisation). 

How national trends could shape the project

Use of the national UPHIA (Uganda Population-based HIV Impact Assessment, a national survey measuring HIV prevalence, incidence, and response in Uganda)/Ministry of Health priorities as framing: Uganda’s national plans emphasise:

• keeping children on ART

• preventing new infections among young people

• and integrating community and school-based approaches.

Monitoring & evaluation:

• Primary indicator: proportion of participating children who miss zero ART doses in a defined 30-day period (measured by caregiver/child self-report and clinic refill records).

• Secondary indicators: clinic appointment attendance; proportion of children with suppressed viral load (if feasible and ethical/available); teacher/caregiver knowledge scores; qualitative stories/case studies (with consent).

• Method: small baseline survey (approx. 100 children/guardians), simple midline at 3 months and endline at 6 months (or annually if scaled). Include a short qualitative strand (5–10 in-depth interviews) to capture lived experience and stigma changes. Embedding this from the start is low-cost but essential to prove impact for future scaling. 

• Conduct frequent milestone reviews (e.g., fortnightly) during the three-month pilot to track progress, troubleshoot barriers, and maintain schedule discipline.

Header image credit: Workman House