The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health, Diana Atwiine, has announced the official flag-off of Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) in Rubirizi District, marking a key milestone in strengthening community-level healthcare delivery.
In a post on her X (formerly Twitter) account, Atwiine said the CHEWs have commenced their duties following the completion of training, with a clear directive to work closely with Village Health Teams (VHTs) as one coordinated team.
She emphasised that this collaboration is intended to improve prevention, early disease detection, and effective primary healthcare at the community level.
Atwiine noted that the structured approach being rolled out in Rubirizi mirrors successful international models, including those used in Japan, where strong community-based primary care systems have contributed to improved population health outcomes through prevention and early intervention.
Beyond healthcare delivery, the Permanent Secretary also proposed that Rubirizi District be adopted as a model district for the establishment of Social Service Committees.
She said the committees would help strengthen coordination and performance across all social service sectors, in recognition of the district’s demonstrated strong leadership.
According to Atwiine, adopting an integrated social services approach would not only improve service delivery but also provide a learning model that could be replicated in other districts across the country.
The deployment of CHEWs, working hand in hand with VHTs, is expected to enhance access to primary healthcare, particularly at the grassroots, while reinforcing government efforts to build a preventive, community-centered health system.