The Ministry of Health has officially launched the rollout of the Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) programme in Kampala, marking a significant step toward strengthening primary health care services in Uganda's capital.

The Director General Health Services, Prof. Charles Olaro, led the Ministry of Health team during the Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) Entry Meeting hosted by the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA).

Prof. Olaro expressed confidence in the implementation team, led by Director of Public Health Dr. Sarah Zalwango, saying he had no doubt they would successfully implement the programme. He said introducing CHEWs in Kampala would improve access to essential health services, including routine immunization, ensuring that no child is left behind.

"A healthy population is the foundation for lifting communities out of poverty," Prof. Olaro said.

Commissioner Dr. Richard Kabanda said Kampala provides a unique opportunity to implement the CHEWs programme in a fully urban setting.

"The CHEWs programme is a good entry point for us to understand the dynamics of delivering community health services in an urban environment," he said.

Dr. Kabanda also urged implementing partners to strengthen existing community health structures, including Village Health Teams (VHTs) and Community Health Extension Workers, instead of creating parallel community health cadres.

Dr. Sarah Zalwango described the commencement of CHEWs training and implementation in Kampala as a major milestone in strengthening primary health care services in the city.

Assistant Commissioner Dr. Ronald Ocaatre, while presenting an overview of the programme, explained that Community Health Extension Workers will receive a monthly stipend upon satisfactory submission of their reports, a measure intended to support accountability and sustained service delivery.

The Kampala rollout is supported by the U.S. Government through the Infectious Diseases Institute at Makerere University.

Speaking on behalf of the U.S. Department of State, Public Health Specialist Dr. Immaculate Ddumba said community health begins at home, noting that the programme is focused on training and equipping a formal community health workforce to strengthen primary health care at the grassroots.

She emphasized that Community Health Extension Workers will complement, rather than replace, Village Health Teams, with both cadres working together to improve health outcomes at the parish and village levels.

Community Health Extension Workers are selected through a community-led process at the parish or ward level. According to the Ministry of Health, 69 districts and cities have so far rolled out a total of 8,904 Community Health Extension Workers, bringing essential health services closer to communities across Uganda.