Lira City, Uganda: The Ministry of Health has intensified the rollout of Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs), expanding the programme to Lira City, Lira District, and Mayuge District in a move aimed at strengthening grassroots healthcare delivery and easing pressure on health facilities.
The expansion, officially launched on Monday at Lira City headquarters, saw the distribution of essential medical equipment to trained CHEWs, with Health Minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng leading the exercise alongside district leaders and partners, including FHI 360 under the EPIC project.
Dr Aceng said the CHEWs model is central to Uganda’s push toward universal health coverage, particularly in underserved communities. “The CHEWs strategy is designed to ensure that no Ugandan is left behind when it comes to accessing basic health services,” she said.
“By equipping community health workers with the right tools and skills, we are strengthening early disease detection, improving referrals, and promoting preventive healthcare at household level.”
The programme deploys trained personnel within communities to provide basic health services, health education, and referrals, effectively reducing reliance on overstretched health centres.
Residents in the beneficiary districts say the intervention is already transforming access to healthcare. “I used to delay going to the health centre because of the distance,” said Achen Sarah, a resident of Lira District.
“Now the CHEW checks on us in the village and advises us early. My children are healthier because we act quickly.”
In Mayuge, fishing communities, often hard to reach, are reporting improved access to services. “Health workers rarely reached us before,” said Musoke Peter, a fisherman. “But now the CHEW comes to our landing site, tests for malaria, and guides us on treatment. It has made a big difference.”
Nakato Jane added that the programme is also strengthening preventive health awareness. “We are learning about hygiene, sanitation, and nutrition during these visits. It is helping us prevent diseases instead of just treating them,” she said.
For others, the intervention has already proven lifesaving. “When my wife had complications during pregnancy, the CHEW quickly identified the danger signs and referred us,” said Okello David, a resident of Lira City. “We reached the hospital in time.”
Relieving Pressure on Health Facilities
Lira City Mayor Sam Atul described the programme as a turning point for local healthcare delivery. “This programme is a game changer for our people. For years, distance and limited access to health facilities have delayed treatment. CHEWs are now bridging that gap by bringing services directly to households,” he said.
He noted that early intervention at community level is already reducing congestion at health centres. “We are already seeing reduced pressure on our health centres because many conditions are being managed early at community level. This improves efficiency across the system.”
According to the Ministry of Health, the expansion builds on a successful pilot phase in Lira and Mayuge, where data collected has informed the national scale-up strategy.
Officials say partnerships with organisations such as FHI 360 reflect a broader commitment to evidence-based health reforms.
The CHEWs initiative aligns with Uganda’s long-term goal of strengthening primary healthcare systems and improving early detection of diseases such as malaria, maternal complications, and childhood illnesses.
Health authorities remain optimistic that scaling the CHEWs programme nationwide will significantly improve healthcare access, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach communities.
By shifting focus from facility-based care to household-level intervention, the government aims to build a more responsive, preventive, and inclusive health system.
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