Kampala, Uganda – The Ministry of Health today convened a high-level meeting with officials from the Mastercard Foundation, UNICEF, and other key partners to finalize plans for rolling out the Community Health Workforce Development Program.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Led by the Health Promotion Department, the initiative marks a significant advancement in strengthening Uganda’s frontline health workforce.
The program will provide specialized training and essential equipment to over 1,000 Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) and thousands of Village Health Team (VHT) members, enhancing healthcare delivery in underserved communities.
A $9 million (approximately UGX 32 billion) funding commitment has been secured to support the three-year program.
This investment reflects the Ugandan government and its partners’ shared goal to expand and professionalize the community health workforce a critical step toward universal health coverage.
Community health workers bridge gaps in primary healthcare, especially in rural and hard-to-reach areas, offering services from maternal and child health support to disease prevention and health education.
During the meeting, officials highlighted the program’s alignment with global efforts to boost the capacity of community health workers (CHWs), who are pivotal in improving health outcomes.
Dr. Diana Atwine, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, described the collaboration as a transformative milestone for Uganda’s healthcare system.
“This program will equip our health workers with the skills and tools needed to deliver quality care to vulnerable populations,” Dr. Diana said.
The $9 million funding will cover training programs, medical supplies, operational logistics for nationwide CHEW and VHT deployment, and impact-tracking monitoring systems.
Representatives from the Mastercard Foundation and UNICEF reaffirmed their commitment, stressing the long-term value of investing in a resilient community health workforce.
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