Uganda Launches Massive Recruitment Drive for Community Health Workers

Namutumba, Uganda – Minister of Health Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng has kicked off a phased recruitment drive to hire over 20,000 community health extension workers nationwide.

The announcement came on Thursday during the graduation ceremony of 222 community health extension workers (CHEWs) in Namutumba District.

These newly trained CHEWs will play a vital role in promoting healthy practices, educating communities, and preventing diseases in their areas.

Their responsibilities will also include supporting disease prevention initiatives and facilitating health promotion within their communities.

To support their work, Dr. Aceng handed over bicycles, smartphones, and tool kits to the community health extension workers (CHEWs).

Dr. Ruth Aceng said that the initiative is part of the government’s efforts to bolster community health services and improve healthcare accessibility, especially in rural areas.

According to Dr. Kirya, District Health Officer of Namutumba, the deployment of CHEWs has already yielded positive results, with significant improvements in health indicators during their 6-month training period.

This move is expected to have a substantial impact on Uganda’s healthcare sector, particularly in rural areas where healthcare access is limited.