The Ministry of Health has officially flagged off Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) in Rubirizi District to begin their duties following the completion of their training, marking a significant step toward strengthening primary healthcare delivery at the community level.
Speaking at the event on Wednesday at the district headquarters, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Diana Atwine, directed the newly deployed CHEWs to collaborate closely with Village Health Teams (VHTs) to ensure a coordinated and effective approach to community health.
“We have officially flagged off the CHEWs to commence their duties in Rubirizi District following their training, with a clear directive to work closely with VHTs as a cohesive team to strengthen community health,” Dr Atwine said.
She emphasized that the collaboration between CHEWs and VHTs is designed to improve prevention, early detection of illnesses, and timely referrals within communities.
Dr Atwine noted that Uganda’s approach mirrors successful international models, particularly in countries such as Japan, where strong community-based primary healthcare systems have contributed to better population health outcomes.
“This structured approach mirrors models seen in countries like Japan, which emphasize strong prevention, early detection, and coordinated primary care at the community level, leading to improved population health outcomes,” she explained.
In recognition of Rubirizi District’s leadership and commitment to service delivery, Dr. Atwine proposed that the district be adopted as a national model for strengthening coordination across social services.
“I further proposed that Rubirizi District be adopted as a model for establishing Social Service Committees to enhance performance across all social service sectors, in recognition of the district’s demonstrated strong leadership,” she said.
The deployment of CHEWs forms part of the Ministry of Health’s broader strategy to reinforce primary healthcare, reduce preventable diseases, and bring essential health services closer to the people, particularly at the grassroots level.
