Over 20,000 Community Health Workers (CHWs) and community extension workers have been registered electronically under the National Community Health Strategy (NCHS) project.
Dr Ronald Misinde, a consultant in the Public Health Department at Lira Regional Referral Hospital, said that the NCHS will be popularised, especially for registering pregnant mothers within the community, including teenage pregnancies, and follow up with them.
The CHWs are trained to manage malaria in the community. If they suspect someone has malaria, they can manage and offer treatment. They also identify pregnant mothers and refer them to health facilities for antenatal services.
Dr Patrick Kagurusi. Country Manager Amref Health Africa –Uganda speaking during the official closeout of the project at Golf Course Hotel.
Dr Misinde explained that, “Teenage mothers don’t want to come for antenatal clinics; they come when they are due for labour without having been examined for pressure, blood levels, and other health indicators, which leads to poor outcomes.”
He noted that teenage pregnancies are a major contributor to maternal mortality in the region.
“If the CHWs are well empowered, they can detect so much in the community that does not come to the hospital,” he added.
The objective of the project was to make the Community CHWs registry functional. Amref Health Africa – Uganda partnered with the Ministry of Health to ensure that the NCHS is fully operational.
The project increased access to healthcare services for marginalized populations and improved health outcomes in targeted communities.
The Ministry of Health is shifting from clinical-based management of ill health to investing more in health promotion and disease prevention, aiming to reduce the number of people attending health facilities with preventable illnesses.
During the official closeout of the project at Golf Course Hotel on July 3,
Dr Tonny Kapsandui, the Program Manager of Reproductive Maternal Newborn Child Adolescent Health and Nutrition at Amref Health Africa – Uganda, said that the project supported 21 districts to register all CHWs, including Village Health Teams and the new cadres who are Community Extension Workers.
He noted that while the registry was designed by the Ministry of Health, it was not functional.
“The registry is electronic; in some districts, they had to support and procure smartphones for capturing data and submitting reports in real-time,” he said.
Edward Basenge, the Program Officer at the Department of Community Health, Ministry of Health, emphasized the importance of training CHWs who will be situated on the ground through their structures.
Dr Patrick Kagurusi, the Country Manager Amref Health Africa–Uganda said they are committed to work at different levels of the health system but also help the health ministry fulfil its mandate to strengthen the system to deliver essential services.
He commended the health ministry for the support and strategic guidelines they have provided to the organisation, especially the platform that allows them to perform their duties.
Source link : https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/news/community-health-workers-registration-goes-di-NV_191665
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Publish date : 2024-07-06 12:57:14
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