Uganda’s Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, and the Minister of Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero, have emphasized the critical role of Community Health Workers (CHWs) in disease prevention during the opening of the 3rd National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Conference.
The event, held under the theme “Building Resilient Health Systems for Disease Prevention through Strengthening Community Health Workers,” drew government officials, health professionals, and international partners at Speke Resort Munyonyo.
In her opening speech, Prime Minister Nabbanja highlighted the government’s continued investment in healthcare infrastructure, while emphasizing that a healthy population is key to achieving Uganda’s Vision 2040. She praised the CHWs as the unsung heroes of the healthcare system, working tirelessly to bring essential services to remote and underserved communities. Nabbanja stressed that strengthening the capacity of CHWs, through programs like the Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs), would play a vital role in alleviating the burden on Uganda’s health infrastructure.
“Our CHWs are the unsung heroes of our health system. They work tirelessly to bring healthcare to the most remote and underserved areas of Uganda, providing essential services and educating communities,” the Prime Minister said. She further called on stakeholders to collaborate in achieving the goals of Uganda’s National Health Policy III.
Dr. Aceng, in her remarks, echoed the Prime Minister’s sentiments, focusing on the Ministry of Health’s ongoing efforts to professionalize the community health workforce. She highlighted the CHEWs program as a major step forward in expanding access to essential healthcare services and addressing long-standing gaps, particularly in rural areas.
“The introduction of the CHEWs program represents a significant step forward in expanding access to essential healthcare services. It aims to address gaps in service delivery and ensure that communities, even in remote areas, receive the care they need,” Dr. Aceng stated. She also noted the key role CHWs played during the COVID-19 pandemic and stressed that over 75% of diseases could be prevented through community-level health interventions.
The Minister revealed that the Ministry is undergoing a harmonization of CHW roles to streamline coordination and improve efficiency. She called for sustained support for CHWs through resources, training, and supervision, to ensure their success translates into healthier communities across Uganda.
Health Ministry PS, Dr Diana Atwine said, “The success of health promotion and disease prevention at the community level will largely depend on our strategy to sensitize the community.@
All leaders expressed their deep gratitude to development partners and conference organizers, praising their efforts to advance health promotion and disease prevention in Uganda.
