Kazo, Uganda – The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Diana Atwine, has officially commissioned 102 Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) in Kazo District. As part of the commissioning, the CHEWs received 102 bicycles and other essential tools to aid in their work, recently donated by the Ministry of Health.

The commissioning ceremony took place at the Kazo district headquarters and was attended by officials from the Ministry of Health, development partners, district leaders, the newly commissioned CHEWs, and community members.

The CHEWs program, a partnership between the Ministry of Health and The AIDS Support Organization (TASO) is designed to strengthen community-based health services across Uganda. In Kazo, each parish now has two CHEWs, one male and one female selected by local leaders and parish stakeholders. All selected individuals met the minimum qualification of an O-Level certificate and were verified by both the Ministry of Health and the District Health Department.

Following their recruitment, the CHEWs underwent six months of intensive training at the district headquarters. They have since been deployed to their respective parishes, where they are expected to spend 70% of their time within the community and 30% at nearby health facilities. Their primary role is to prevent and manage diseases at the community level and additional equipment is expected to be provided to further support their work.

Dr. Atwine emphasized that the CHEWs strategy is a key government initiative to build resilient health systems focused on disease prevention. "This strategy is aimed at reducing health challenges at the grassroots level by strengthening the role of community health workers," she said. "We will continue rolling out the program nationwide as more resources become available."

She noted that in districts where the program has already been implemented, there has been a noticeable reduction in disease burden. The CHEWs initiative is currently active in 23 districts, with plans to expand to seven more districts and eventually nationwide.

Dr. Atwine also urged the new CHEWs to serve as good ambassadors of the Ministry of Health. She warned them against engaging in conflicts with other health workers or community health structures such as Village Health Teams (VHTs), and cautioned them not to exceed their mandate by prescribing medication or performing duties meant for qualified medical personnel.

She further warned community members about mpox, a newly emerging and deadly disease that spreads silently, particularly through sexual contact.
Dr. Henry Mwebesa, Chairperson of the Health Services Commission, cautioned the CHEWs against charging patients for services or behaving harshly towards them. He encouraged collaboration with VHTs and called on district leadership to implement disciplinary mechanisms for any misconduct among the workers.

Chief Administrative Officer for Kazo district Hajji Badru Mayanja Majwala expressed appreciation for the CHEWs’ dedication. "These workers are playing a vital role in the fight against diseases in our communities. Though they earn modest allowances, they are making a significant impact," he said. He also thanked the Ministry of Health and its partners for providing the bicycles, which he said will greatly improve the CHEWs’ efficiency.

Kazo County MP Dan Kimosho welcomed the intervention, noting that it would significantly reduce the prevalence of preventable diseases in the district. He also urged locals to show appreciation by supporting the NRM government in the upcoming elections.

LC5 Chairperson Rev. Samuel Mugisha Katugunda commended the CHEWs for their professionalism and urged them to stick to the values and practices instilled during their training. He encouraged them to rely on the donated bicycles as their main mode of transportation to enhance service delivery.
The newly commissioned CHEWs expressed gratitude for the support, particularly the provision of bicycles, which they said would greatly facilitate their work in the communities.

Kazo District is among the fortunate districts benefiting from the CHEWs program, which has not only improved health service delivery but also created employment opportunities for local residents.

Tinyefuza Naboth
Kazo District Communications Officer