By KT Reporter
At least 304 Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) are being trained in Bukedea district as the government officially rolls out a new team of professional health workers in communities.
The CHEWs are part of a strategic national shift intended to tackle critical public health challenges, notably risky home births and the widespread practice of self-medication. This initiative marks a transition from the nation’s long-standing reliance on volunteer Village Health Teams (VHTs), according to officials from the Ministry of Health and partners like The Aids Support Organization (TASO).
The CHEW program establishes a paid, formally trained, and equipped workforce, bridging the critical gap between remote communities and established health facilities.
Bukedea is one of eight districts trialing this national pilot program. The other districts include Bunyangabu, Kakumiro, Kalungu, Kassanda, Kisoro, Mbale, and Mitooma. This new approach is reportedly inspired by successful community health models implemented in countries like Ethiopia.
The primary objective of the CHEWs is to combat reliance on Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs), a factor in Uganda’s persistently high maternal mortality ratio.
The Ministry of Health reported the ratio at 189 deaths per 100,000 live births as of 2022. This is a concerning figure, fueled by the fact that nearly one in four births (25%) in the country still occur outside a health facility, a statistic highlighted in the 2022 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS).
Dr. Eve Wabule, Ministry of Health Trainer stressed that CHEWs are explicitly trained to discourage home births and refer pregnant women to health centers. This measure is designed to prevent avoidable deaths from complications like hemorrhage and sepsis, which TBAs aren’t equipped to manage.
The CHEWs are also mandated to address the widespread and risky practice of self-medication in the country.
Studies in rural Uganda indicate that the prevalence of self-medication for common illnesses can be as high as 70%. This practice frequently leads to misdiagnosis, treatment failures, and significantly contributes to the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). AMR is a major public health danger, as identified in Uganda’s National Action Plan for Health Security (2018–2023) (Note: A new plan for 2024–2029 has since been launched).
The new health workers are expected to educate communities on the importance of seeking professional diagnosis and proper treatment to mitigate AMR effects.
The new health workers undergo a comprehensive six-month training, which includes two months of hands-on practical experience to ensure effectiveness. Each CHEW will be strategically equipped with a bicycle for transport, smartphone for real-time data collection, blood pressure machine, glucometer, and MUAC tape for nutrition assessment.
Hellen Grace Tino, the LC5 councilor for Kabarwa, described the new health team as “grassroots soldiers,” underscoring their critical role in transforming primary healthcare access at the community level.
-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
